[Double blind study of the effect of alveolar air distribution influenced by RG 033 in chronic bronchitis]

RG 033 is a compound consisting of betametasone in resinic microcapsules which allow a slow and continuous dialysis of the active drug through the membrane in the digestive tract. The drug was studied with regard to its effects on the distribution of alveolar air and its gastric tolerance. In a preliminary study the drug release from the capsules in the pH-conditions of the digestive tract was studied by means of a physico-chemical model. Two groups of 15 patients with broncho-obstruction reversed by salbutamol, a potent beta 2-sympathomimetic, were included in the trial. One group received 1 mg and the other 2 mg of the drug. An alternate scheme was used for the treatments. The functional methods used to assess the ventilatory results were chosen according to the conclusions of a previous comprehensive study by one of the authors [7] [8]. The ventilatory results of both dosages were quite similar. This observation suggests that a maximum effect on alveolar air distribution was obtained with 1 mg. No unfavourable side-effect on the gastric mucosa was observed.