[Effect of bromhexine on microthrombosis in animal experiments]

The secretolytic agent bromhexine and its active metabolite ambroxol prevent the collagen- and ADP-induced decrease in circulating blood platelets in rabbits, while they do not inhibit the aggregation induced by ADP, collagen or arachidonic acid of human and rabbit blood platelets in vitro. Bromhexine was found to exert beneficial effects on the disturbances of pulmonary function that might be caused by a reduced surfactant production observed during thrombin-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation in rats. The results suggest that bromhexine has a protective effect on the acute impairment of pulmonary function due to microthrombosis.