Effects of Eurespal on clinical course and inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

We studied effects of Eurespal (fenspirid) on clinical course and inflammation in COPD patients. The trial included 2 stages: 3-week therapy of exacerbation and 3-month outpatient treatment in stable condition. The drug was given twice a day, 160 mg dally. We assessed scoring of main clinical signs, lung function parameters, bronchoscopic findings, laboratory markers of inflammation, antioxidant status, and quality of life, performed cytological and cytochemical investigation of induced sputum (IS). During the exacerbation Eurespal had early and distinct cough-inhibiting and mucolytic effects, reduced bronchial obstruction, bronchial inflammation severity, decreased C-reactive protein level, IS cytosis, and neutrophil percentage (p < 0.01), increased IS concentration of lyzosomal and cationic proteins (p < 0.01) and serum level of total antioxidants (in 46.2 % of the patients compared with 26.3 % under the typical therapy). Three-month treatment with Eurespal in COPD patients resulted in further positive shifts in clinical and laboratory inflammation markers, IS cytological and cytochemical parameters. The results show Eurespal to increase the efficiency of the COPD treatment and could be included in the complex therapy of COPD. It has high antiinflammatory activity, inhibits bronchial obstruction progressing and improves quality of life of COPD patients.