An experience of long-term use of Erespal in chronic obstructive bronchitis patients

Abstract

An opened study of efficiency and safety of Erespal (fenspiride) long-term use in management of stable chronic obstructive bronchitis (COB) patients was conducted. The study group included COB patients without exacerbations of the disease during the previous 2 months; the forced expiratory volume for the 1st second (FEV₁ constituted 35-70% of predictive values; the total lung capacity (TLC) was more than 80% of predictive values; pa0₂ was from 65 to 80 mm Hg. It corresponded to moderate COB according to GOLD. The patients receiving any glucocorticosteroid therapy and having severe coexisting diseases as well as acute diseases or exacerbations of chronic diseases were not included in the investigation. Ambulatory Erespal therapy was conducted during 3 months in daily dose of 160 mg. Control examination was conducted in a hospital at the end of each month (M0-M3). The drug efficiency was evaluated using visual analog scales reflecting a seventy of cougji, dyspnea, sputum expectoration, blood gas content and lung function parameters, bronchoscopic features and cellular content of bronchial mucosa specimens. While finished the therapy (М3) the significant (p<0,05) improvement in clinical, laboratory and functional indices was revealed. The average increase in FEV₁ constituted 18,7%. Macrophages number in tracheobronchial mucosa cytogram significantly (p<0,05) increased. Cell ratio approached to the normal values in all the patients. Side effects (epigastric discomfort, nausea, and heartburn) were observed only in 2 patients with the history of duodenal ulcer; after drug correction the Erespal abolition wasn’t required. So, the Erespal long-term use both as monotherapy and in combination with broncholdilating agents is an effective method for anti-inflammatory therapy of COB patients.