Effect of allergen-specific immunotherapy with purified Alt a1 on AMP responsiveness, exhaled nitric oxide and exhaled breath condensate pH: a randomized double blind study

Table 2 Baseline characteristics of the two treatment groups.

	SIT group (n = 21)	Placebo group (n = 18)	P
Age*, years	25 (22-29)	22 (18-26)	0.21
Sex (male/femle)	9/12	13/5	0.11
Asthma + rhinitis/rhinitis only	13/8	10/8	0.75
Sensitization to other allergens (yes/no)	17/4	15/3	0.95
ICS treatment (yes/no)	11/10	9/9	0.98
ICS dose* (beclomethasone equivalent), μg/day	392 (268-535)	456 (310-620)	0.51
FEV₁*, % predicted	95.4 (89.8-101.0)	99.3 (92.4-106.2)	0.36
FEV₁/FVC*, %	78.8 (74.9-82.6)	80.9 (76.6-85.2)	0.44
BRI*, %/log mg/dl
Methacholine	7.2 (4.3-10.1)	7.1 (4.7-9.5)	0.95
AMP	3.6 (2.3-5.0)	3.7 (2.1-5.3)	0.93
ENO**, ppb	38.5 (27.3-54.6)	40.4 827.2-60.1)	0.85
EBC pH*	7.43 (7.15-7.70)	7.50 (7.24-7.77)	0.68

Beclomethasone dipropionate equivalent dose of ICS was calculated on the basis of fluticasone propionate being twice as potent as beclomethasone dipropionate or budesonide, so that the equivalent fluticasone propionate dose was multiplied 2-fold; *Data are given as means (95% confidence interval); **Data are given as geometric mean (95% confidence interval). Abbreviations: AMP = adenosine 5'monophosphate; BRI = bronchial responsiveness index; ENO = exhaled nitric oxide; FEV₁= forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC = forced vital capacity; EBC = exhaled breath condensate.

ISSN: 1710-1492