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Bronchodilator therapy for chronic cough.

Maria Gabriella Matera¹, Paola Rogliani², Alessandro Zanasi³

¹Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy.

Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics

|May 22, 2017

Summary

Bronchodilators may play a minor role in cough treatment, but their effectiveness is inconsistent. More research is needed to confirm their efficacy in treating pathological cough without airway obstruction.

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Area of Science:

Respiratory Medicine
Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

Experimental data suggest airway caliber influences cough reflex sensitivity.
Bronchodilators are standard for asthma and COPD but their role in cough is debated.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the role and efficacy of bronchodilators in treating pathological cough.
To address the controversy surrounding bronchodilator use for cough.

Main Methods:

Review of experimental studies and existing human data on bronchodilator effects on cough.
Identification of gaps in clinical trial evidence.

Main Results:

Evidence for bronchodilators improving cough reflex sensitivity is inconsistent in humans.
Current practice of using bronchodilators for cough without airway obstruction is questionable.

Conclusions:

Bronchodilators may have a limited role in cough treatment.
Long-term clinical trials are necessary to establish the efficacy of bronchodilators for various types of pathological cough.