[Almitrine per os in the therapy of chronic obstructive bronchopneumopathies]

A double-blind study was conducted to evaluate the effects of almitrine, administered orally as 3.5 mg/kg/day for one month, when compared with placebo in 20 patients with chronic obstructive pneumopathies from smoking, currently in the stage of chronic hypercapnic respiratory insufficiency. Clinical improvement was obtained, with a reduction in dyspnea and a more comfortable respiration. Objective signs of improvement where enhanced adaptation to assisted ventilation (3 cases out of 5), and less secondary infection in the almitrine group (0/10) than the placebo group (4/10). A statistically significant improvement (p less than 0.01) was recorded in blood oxygen and bicarbonates levels, and to a lesser degree, in blood CO2 levels (p less than 0.05) and without any increase in overall ventilation. As tolerance was good (8/10), almitrine appears to occupy a place of choice in the field of respiratory analeptic therapy. Its efficacy and convenience in use for daily practice require confirmation in long-term studies (more than 6 months).