Study objectives To study the correlations between sputum elastase output with clinical and
sputum inflammatory and microbial factors in steady-state bronchiectasis. Design
Prospective recruitment of patients with bronchiectasis (17 women; 48.5±16.5 years old;
FEV 1/FVC, 1.3±0.6/2.1±0.9) for assessment of 24-h sputum output of elastase, bacteria,
leukocytes, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α, and leukotriene B 4. Clinical
variables assessed concomitantly included 24-h sputum volume, lung spirometry, number of …