Respiratory medicine
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Respiratory medicine · Jun 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialLong-term effects of almitrine bismesylate in COPD patients with chronic hypoxaemia.
Almitrine bismesylate (AB) is a peripheral chemoreceptor agonist which is believed to improve oxygenation of COPD patients with chronic hypoxaemia, probably by improving the ventilation perfusion mismatch. We studied the long-term effects of AB in COPD patients with chronic hypoxaemia. ⋯ In an intermittent schedule, although well tolerated, at doses of 1 mg/kg/day, AB was not effective in long-term treatment of chronic hypoxemia in COPD patients.
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Respiratory medicine · Jun 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEffect of salmeterol xinafoate on lung mucociliary clearance in patients with asthma.
Lung mucociliary clearance is impaired in stable asthma. The long-acting beta2-agonist salmeterol has been shown in vitro to cause a significant increase in ciliary beat frequency. It seemed possible therefore that salmeterol may also have a favourable effect on lung mucociliary transport in asthmatic patients. ⋯ The main radioaerosol finding was a significant increase in the penetration of radioaerosol into the lung with 24-h radioaerosol rising from 40 +/- 5% on placebo to 49 +/- 4% (P < 0.01) on salmeterol. Despite this increased penetration, a slight favourable change occurred in tracheobronchial aerosol clearance. This study demonstrates that 2 weeks salmeterol treatment influences deposition of particles within the lung by increasing airway patency and indicates a beneficial effect of MDI salmeterol on lung mucociliary clearance.