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Related Concept Videos

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features01:24

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features

Chronic bronchitis is a key phenotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterized by airway-centered inflammation and mucus overproduction. It develops from long-term exposure to harmful particles or gases, most commonly cigarette smoke, which triggers a persistent inflammatory response.Cellular and Structural ChangesInflammation initially affects the large bronchi and later the smaller airways, with infiltration by immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, and...
COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids01:26

COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids

Chronic obstructive pulmonary isease (COPD) involves a group of progressive lung disorders characterized by persistent airflow limitation and chronic respiratory symptoms. Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS), encompassing features of both asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a group of progressive lung disorders that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and refractory (non-reversible) asthma. ACOS leads to complex clinical presentations that combine the inflammatory...
Antiasthma Drugs: Muscarinic Receptor Antagonists01:20

Antiasthma Drugs: Muscarinic Receptor Antagonists

Muscarinic receptor antagonists, also known as antimuscarinic agents, are a class of bronchodilators used to treat asthma, although they are more commonly used to treat COPD. They work by inhibiting the action of acetylcholine (ACh), a neurotransmitter, on muscarinic receptors found in the airways.
Antimuscarinic agents compete with ACh for the same binding site on the muscarinic receptors. By binding to these receptors, they inhibit the downstream effects of ACh and block the parasympathetic...
Drugs Used in Upper Respiratory Disorders: Overview01:16

Drugs Used in Upper Respiratory Disorders: Overview

Upper respiratory tract disorders, including viral infections and allergic rhinitis, cause significant discomfort and disrupt daily life. Managing these conditions involves a variety of drugs, such as antihistamines, intranasal steroids, decongestants, antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics. Specific examples of drugs in each category are provided.
Antihistamines (e.g., Benadryl) block histamines from binding. Histamines are chemicals released during an allergic reaction in the body. As a...
Drugs Used in Lower Respiratory Disorders: Overview01:17

Drugs Used in Lower Respiratory Disorders: Overview

Lower respiratory tract disorders present challenges that often require skilled and nuanced approaches for effective management. Common ailments, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), have prompted the development of intricate treatment strategies involving bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs, each tailored to ease breathing and revitalize the lungs.
Bronchodilators, the first step of respiration enhancement, come in various forms, each with its own mechanism...
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Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics

Respiratory symptoms, such as congestion and cough, commonly accompany respiratory tract conditions. Various medications, such as antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics, play crucial roles in providing relief.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

A Preliminary Study on Warm Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Abdominal Distension
05:19

A Preliminary Study on Warm Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Abdominal Distension

Published on: September 1, 2023

Mucoactive agents in bronchiectasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Benjamin McCullough1, John Busby2, Brenda O'Neill3

  • 1Wellcome Trust-Wolfson Northern Ireland Clinical Research Facility, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.

European Respiratory Review : an Official Journal of the European Respiratory Society
|June 24, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Mucoactive agents do not significantly reduce exacerbations in bronchiectasis patients. While some studies show small improvements in lung function (FEV1), the overall clinical benefit remains uncertain due to low-certainty evidence.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 26, 2026

A Preliminary Study on Warm Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Abdominal Distension
05:19

A Preliminary Study on Warm Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Abdominal Distension

Published on: September 1, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonology
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

  • Mucoactive agents are used in bronchiectasis to improve mucociliary clearance, aiming to break the cycle of infection and inflammation.
  • Prescribing of these agents varies due to limited robust evidence on their efficacy.
  • This study updates the evidence on the effects of mucoactive agents in adult bronchiectasis patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and meta-analyze the evidence on the efficacy and safety of mucoactive agents in adults with bronchiectasis.
  • To evaluate the impact of mucoactive agents on exacerbation frequency, lung function, quality of life, and adverse events.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and observational studies.
  • Searched major databases (Medline, Embase, CENTRAL) and trial registries up to October 2025.
  • Included adult patients with bronchiectasis, excluding cystic fibrosis and pediatric populations. Primary outcome: exacerbation frequency.

Main Results:

  • Analyzed 24 studies (7051 patients) evaluating eight mucoactive agents.
  • Pooled analysis showed no statistically significant difference in annual exacerbation incidence (very low certainty evidence).
  • A small, statistically significant increase in FEV1 % pred was observed (3.23%), but with very low certainty evidence. No significant differences in other outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Current pooled evidence does not demonstrate a reduction in exacerbations with mucoactive agents in bronchiectasis.
  • Observed improvements in FEV1 % pred are small and of very low certainty, indicating uncertain clinical benefit.
  • Highlights the need for targeted clinical trials to assess specific agents and patient subgroups.