Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Mucolytics for bronchiectasis.

A J Crockett1, J M Cranston, K M Latimer

  • 1Respiratory Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, Adelaide, South Australia, AUSTRALIA, 5042. alan.crockett@flinders.edu.au

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|May 2, 2001
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Domiciliary oxygen for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2005
Same author

[Self assessment quality of life and lung diseases (SAQOL in patients with pulmonary carcinoma: influence to survival and impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Pneumologie (Stuttgart, Germany)·2005
Same author

Systematic assessment of clinical practice guidelines for the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Respiratory medicine·2003
Same author

Survival on long-term oxygen therapy in chronic airflow limitation: from evidence to outcomes in the routine clinical setting.

Internal medicine journal·2001
Same author

Domiciliary oxygen for interstitial lung disease.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2001
Same author

A review of long-term oxygen therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Respiratory medicine·2001
Same journal

Interventions to prevent or cease electronic cigarette use in children and adolescents.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Drugs to improve anaemia, quality of life, and physical function in people with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Interventions for smoking cessation in inpatient psychiatry settings.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Mechanical thromboprophylaxis for preventing intradialytic hypotension in people undergoing maintenance haemodialysis.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Prognostic models for predicting intensive care unit admission or mortality in critically ill adults not yet been admitted to the intensive care unit.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Views and experiences of weight management for people living with mobility‑limiting conditions, intellectual disabilities or severe mental illness: a qualitative evidence synthesis.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
See all related articles

Limited evidence supports mucolytics for bronchiectasis. High-dose bromhexine with antibiotics may improve sputum clearance in bronchiectasis patients. Further research is needed.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Bronchiectasis is an irreversible airway dilation often leading to difficulty clearing infected sputum.
  • Mucolytic agents aim to improve sputum properties for easier expectoration.
  • Recombinant human DNase targets DNA from neutrophils at infection sites.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the efficacy of ingested or inhaled mucolytics for managing bronchiectasis.

Main Methods:

  • Searched multiple databases and contacted experts for relevant randomized trials.
  • Included trials on mucolytic treatment for bronchiectasis, excluding cystic fibrosis.
  • Independent data extraction and author verification were performed.

Main Results:

  • Three trials were identified; meta-analysis was not possible.

Related Experiment Videos

  • High-dose bromhexine with antibiotics improved sputum expectoration and reduced production compared to placebo.
  • Recombinant human DNase showed no benefit and potentially negative effects on lung function, with increased adverse events.

    • Conclusions:

    • Insufficient evidence exists for routine mucolytic use in bronchiectasis.
    • High-dose bromhexine combined with antibiotics may aid sputum clearance.
    • More research is required to establish the role of mucolytics in bronchiectasis management.