Asthmatic patients COPD patients Control subjects p1 p2 Subjects (n) 50 40 60     Age (years) 38.500±10.53 59.350 ± 10.39 52.150±16.89 <0.001* 0.414 Sex M/F (%) 25(50%)/25(50%) 30(75%)/20(25%) 45(75%)/1525% 0.007* 1.000 Smoking status n(%)           Non smoker 33 (66%) 7 (17.5%) 19 (31.7%) <0.001* <0.001* Current smoker 10 (20%) 19 (47.5%) 30 (60%) Ex smoker 7 (14%) 14 (35%) 11 (22%) Pack-year of smoking 15.54 ± 7.43 31.60 ± 13.81 23.93 ± 14.09 0.038* 0.024* Post –BD FEV1 % predicted 74.78 ± 9.29 66.8 ± 12.93 - - - Spirometric classification of severity Intermittent= 7(14%) Mild= 18 (9%) Moderate= 28 (56%) Severe= 6 (12%) Mild= 10(25%) Moderate= 21(53%) Severe= 3(8%) Very severe= 6(15%)       Total IgE, IU/ml 221.11 ± 75.51 - 38.40 ± 12.89 <0.001* - n: number of subjects. Data are presented as mean ± SD. Pack-year of smoking: (packs per day) × (years smoked). Post –BD FEV1: post bronchodilater forced expiratory volume in one second. p1: p value for significant test between asthmatic patients and control. p2: p value for significant test between COPD patients and control. *: Statistically significant at p ≤ 0.05.

Table 1: Characteristics of the study population.