[Treatment of mild exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]

The aim of the study was to compare clinical efficacy of two variants of broncho- and mucolytic therapy for patients with mild or moderately severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It included 49 patients in the phase of exacerbation divided into 2 groups. Group 1 (n = 25) received ascoril (10 ml tid), group 2 salbutamol (200 mcg two inhalations tid) plus bromhexin (8 mg tid) for 10 days. The efficacy of therapy was estimated from dynamics of clinical symptoms (cough, spiting patterns, PEFmorn/REV1, number of inhalations). Therapy decreased the intensity and frequency of daytime and especially night-time coughing. The effect of ascoril on these symptoms was more pronounced than that of two other drugs that practically did not reduce expectoration. PEFmorn/REV1 in group 1 significantly increased 80% of the patients in this group ceased using salbutamol "on demand" whereas all patients of group 2 continued to inhale it once or twice daily. It is concluded that ascoril is most efficacious and safe for the treatment of mild or moderately severe COPD and elimination of its exacerbation. The early prescription of this therapy permits to avoid hospitalization and expensive therapy.