Characteristic | Placebo N = 5 | Azithromycin N = 8 |
---|---|---|
Sex (no. of subjects) | ||
 Male | 3 (60%) | 3 (38%) |
 Female | 2 (40%) | 5 (62%) |
Age (yr) | ||
 Median, Range, IQR | 57 (41;64), (48;62) | 48 (19;60), (40;52) |
Race (no. of subjects; %) | ||
 Caucasian | 5 (100%) | 8 (100%) |
Body-mass index | ||
 Mean (SD) | 31.5 (5.5) | 26.0 (5.9) |
Positive atopic status | ||
 (no. of subjects; %)* | 3 (60%) | 6 (75%) |
Severe asthma exacerbations requiring treatment with systemic corticosteroids | ||
  previous 12 months (% of subjects) | 5 (100%) | 6 (75%) |
  previous 12 months (no. [mean], SD) | 2.2 (0.4) | 1.9 (1.5) |
Lower respiratory tract infections requiring treatment with antibiotics | ||
  previous 12 months (% of subjects) | 4 (80%) | 6 (75%) |
  previous 12 months (no. [mean], SD) | 1.0 (0.7) | 2.8 (1.9) |
FEV1 prebronchodilator (% of predicted) | ||
 Mean (SD) | 87.6 (19.1) | 87.9 (19.0) |
FEV1/FVC ratio prebronchodilator | ||
 Mean (SD) | 60.4 (12.1) | 66.9 (9.4) |
FENO (ppb) | ||
 Median, Range, IQR | 12.8, (8;26.7), (10;20.9) | 30, (13;54), (20.3;37.5) |
Eosinophil count in blood (x10-9/liter) | ||
 Mean (SD) | 494.0 (420.9) | 161.3 (100.2) |
Daily dose of inhaled corticosteroid (BDP-equivalent) (μg) | ||
Daily dose | 2000, (2000;3000), | 2125, (1500;4000), |
 Median, Range, IQR | (2000;2500) | (2000;3625) |
Use of oral prednisolone | ||
 Regular use (% of subjects) | 1 (20%) | 2 (25%) |
Daily maintenance dose (mg) | ||
 Median, Range, IQR | 2.5, (−;-), (−;-) | 8.8, (7.5;10), (−;-) |
Use of montelukast (leukotriene receptor antagonsist) (no. of subjects; %) | 2 (40%) | 2 (25%) |