Effects of acetylcysteine on micro-inflammation and pulmonary ventilation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation

Table 4 The sputum C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in the treatment and control groups

	CRP in sputum (mg/L)			IL-6 in sputum (pg/mL)			TNF-α in sputum (pg/mL)
Group	Baseline	End of Treatment	Change	Baseline	End of Treatment	Change	Baseline	End of Treatment	Change
Treatment	42.8 ± 18.4	20.4 ± 12.0	-22.4 ± 13.2	46.2 ± 19.6	22.8 ± 14.4	-23.4 ± 11.2	12.6 ± 4.8	8.8 ± 3.6	-3.8 ± 2.4
Control	41.2 ± 17.6	32.8 ± 15.2	-8.4 ± 10.4	44.8 ± 18.4	36.8 ± 16.8	-8.0 ± 9.6	12.2 ± 4.6	10.4 ± 3.8	-1.8 ± 1.6
Mean difference (95%CI)	-16.2 (-22.8 to -9.6)			-18.6 (-26.2 to -11.0)			-2.2 (-3.2 to -1.2)
P value	< 0.001			< 0.001			< 0.001

CRP: C-reactive protein; IL-6: Interleukin-6; TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha.