Table 3

Univariate and multivariate relations between inflammatory markers in sputum and plasma and clinical diagnosis groups.

Compartment
Inflammatory markers
COPD
Asthma
CB
HS

Sputum cell counts
Neutrophils (%)
+
-



Eosinophils (%)

+/++



Lymphocytes (%)


+/++


Macrophages (%)
-




Sputum mediators
sTNF-R55 (pg/ml)
+/++




sTNF-R75 (pg/ml)
+




LBP (ng/ml)





IL-8 (ng/ml)
+




Plasma mediators
sTNF-R55 (ng/ml)
+

-


sTNF-R75 (ng/ml)
+

-


LBP (μg/ml)
+/++


-/–

IL-8 (pg/ml)
+




(+ indicates positive univariate significance; - indicates significant negative univariate relation; ++ indicates positive multivariate significance; -- indicates negative multivariate significance) CB = chronic bronchitis; HS = healthy smokers

Chavannes et al. BMC Pulmonary Medicine 2006 6:11   doi:10.1186/1471-2466-6-11