Abstract
Many patients with chest disease have difficulty in clearing their chests of sputum. A variety of substances have been used in an attempt to help them. Mucolytic drugs can alter the rheological properties of mucus by acting directly on the secretions or by modifying the metabolic activity of the mucus secreting cells. Many physicians and patients are certain to reap a benefit. This paper will discuss the effectiveness of mucolytic therapy.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ayward M, Maddock J, Dewland P (1984) Clinical evaluation of N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis. Eur J Resp Dis 61:81–89
Boman S, B��cker U, Larson S, Melander B, Wählander L (1983) Oral N-acetylcysteine reduces exacerbation rate in chronic bronchitis. Report of trial organised by the Swedish Society for Pulmonary Disease. Eur J Resp Dis 64:405–415
Chodosh S, Baigelmann W, Medici TC, Enslein K (1975) Long-term home use of acetylcystein in chronic bronchitis. Curr Ther Resp 17:319
Chodosh S (1980) Acetylcystein in chronic bronchitis. Eur J Resp Dis 61(Suppl. 111):90–92
Cotgreave JA, Eklund A, Larsson R, Moldeus PW (1987) No penetration of orally administered N-acetylcysteine into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Eur J Resp Dis 70:73–77
Dorow P (1989) Welchen Einfluß hat Cineol auf die mukoziliare Clearance? Therapiewoche 39:2652–2654
Linsemann P, Swoboda M (1986) Therapeutische Wirksamkeit ätherischer Öle bei chronisch obstruktiver Bronchitis. Therapiewoche 36:1162–1156
Linsemann P, Hemat H, Swoboda M (1989) Therapeutischer Wert ätherischer Öle bei chronisch obstruktiver Bronchitis. Atemwegs-Lungenkrh Jahrgang 15(4):152–156
Millar AB, Pavia D, Agnew JE, Lopez-Vidriero MT, Lanque D, Clarke JW (1985) Effect of oral N-acetylcystein of mucus clearance. Br J Dis Chest 79:262
Pulle DF, Glass P, Dulfano ML (1970) A controlled study of the safety and efficacy of acetylcysteine-isoproterenol combination. Curr Ther Resp 12:485
Scheffner AL (1963) The reduction in vitro in viscosity of mucoprotein solutions by a new mucolytic agent, N-acetylcysteine. Ann NY Acad Sci 106:298
Stafunsky M, von Manteufel SE, Swoboda M (1989) Therapie der akuten Tracheobronchitis mit ätherischen Ölen und mit Soleinhalation ein Doppelblindversuch. Zeitschr f Phytotherapie 10:130–134
Todisco T, Polidori R, Rossi F, Jannacci L, Bruni B, Fedeli L, Palumbo R (1985) Effect of N-acetylcysteine in subject with slow pulmonary mucociliary clearance. Eur J Resp Dis 66:136–141
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dorow, P. Mucolytics: When dispensable, when necessary?. Lung 168 (Suppl 1), 622–626 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02718186
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02718186


