CLEARANCE OF LUNG SECRETIONS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC-BRONCHITIS - EFFECT OF TERBUTALINE AND IPRATROPIUM BROMIDE AEROSOLS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 61  (5) , 245-253
Abstract
A placebo controled, double-blind, cross-over study was carried out to examine both the bronchodilator properties and the effect on lung mucociliary clearance of terbutaline (Bricanyl), a .beta. agonist, and ipratropium (Atrovent), a synthetic anticholinergic drug. Both were given regularly (2 puffs 4 times a day for 1 wk) from pressurized metered dose inhalers to patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis. Ten patients completed the terbutaline study and 12 patients completed the ipratropium study; of these, 7 patients were common to both studies. Measurements of the pulmonary function indices, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow rate and the flow rate at 50% of FVC measured from maximal expiratory flow-volume curves, confirmed the bronchodilator action of both drugs in the patients. Clearance of lung secretions was measured by the non-invasive, radioaerosol technique. The drugs did not effect the rate of mucociliary clearance. The radioaerosol tracer particles used for measuring lung clearance, but inhaled under strictly controlled conditions, were deposited significantly more towards the lung periphery after treatment with ipratropium only. Ipratropium reduced the resistance to the entry of inhaled aerosols in the small airways.