| Normal Control (n = 56) | Asthmatics (n = 56) | P value | |
---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | On Inhaled Steroids (n = 31) | Not on Inhaled Steroids (n = 25) |  |
Age (years) | 27 (22–39) | 27 (23–38) | 28 (21–40) | 0.6* |
Duration of asthma (years) | - | 5 (1–15) | 10 (4.5–14.5) | 0.18* |
Atopic asthma | - | 16 | 16 | 0.42 †|
Non-atopic asthma | - | 9 | 15 | Â |
FEV1 (liter) | - | 2.3 (2–2.67) | 2 (1.7–2.5) | 0.2* |
WBC count (× 109/L) | 6.5 (5.1–7.5) | 6.4 (5.1–8.3) | 6 (5.1–8.1) | 0.8* |
Eosinophils % | 0.11(0.07–0.18) | 5 (2–9) | 6 (4–10) | 0.2* |
Serum IgE (IU/L) | 26 (10–62) | 240 (54–595) | 200 (96–612) | 0.8* |