Effect of cyclooxygenase inhibitor on excessive sputum

Indomethacin suppository and aspirin inhalation reduced the amounts of sputum in the patients with bronchiectasis and chronic bronchitis. A 67-year-old woman with bronchiectasis received indomethacin suppository to relieve the lumbar pain. After the start of indomethacin, a reduction in the amount of sputum was observed and the volume of sputum returned to pretreatment levels after the cessation of indomethacin. Levels of cyclooxygenase products in the sputum during indomethacin was also much lower than their levels after discontinuance of indomethacin. A 64-year-old man with chronic bronchitis was also administered inhaled aspirin to control the sputum volume. Both indomethacin suppository and aspirin inhalation reduced the amounts of sputum. In addition to these cases, a 31-year-old woman with bronchial asthma was tried to control the sputum production with indomethacin, but it had no effect on the sputum volume. It is suggested that these drugs may be useful in the treatment of excessive sputum in bronchiectasis and chronic bronchitis.