Hemosiderin in sputum macrophages may predict infective exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a retrospective observational study

Table 2 Summary of sputum results

Sputum characteristics	Data
Total Cell Count × 10⁶/g	6.5 (2.5, 12.8)
Hemosiderin Index (%)	1.5 (0, 14)
Hemosiderin Category:
• 0% • <20% • ≥20%	20 (37%) 22 (41%) 12 (22%)
IL-6 (pg/ml)	46.0 (24, 84)
Neutrophil (%)	65.6 (50, 79)
Absolute Neutrophils × 10⁶/g	3.7 (1.7, 9.5)
Eosinophil (%)	0.3 (0, 1.6)
Absolute Eosinophils × 10⁶/g	0.01 (0, 0.2)
Cellular Phenotype
• Neutrophilic Bronchitis • Eosinophilic Bronchitis • Mixed Bronchitis • BUS • Paucigranulocytic	13 (24.1%) 7 (13.0%) 1 (1.8%) 18 (33.3%) 15 (27.8%)

Data are presented as median and IQR or Number (%)
Neutrophilic bronchitis = Total Cell Count (TCC) ≥10 × 10⁶/g and Sputum Neutrophils ≥65%; Eosinophilic bronchitis = Sputum Eosinophils ≥3%; Mixed Bronchitis = fulfilling criteria for both neutrophilic and eosinophilic bronchitis; Bronchitis of Undetermined Significance (BUS) = TCC ≥ 10 × 10⁶/g with Sputum Neutrophils <65% and Sputum Eosinophils <3% or TCC < 1010 × 10⁶/g and Sputum Neutrophils ≥65%; Paucigranulocytic = not meeting criteria for any of the above

ISSN: 1471-2466