Clinical trial of bromhexine in Sjögren's syndrome

Tear secretion and lysozyme tear content were measured in 30 patients with Sjögren's syndrome after treatment with oral bromhexine, 32 mg/day. In 21 patients (70%) there was a marked increase in tear secretion and in lysozyme content. In patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) good results in clarifying the mucoid eye discharge were obtained. A remarkable amelioration of xerostomia was also noted. Six other patients, serving as controls, were given a placebo and bromhexine. The placebo had no influence on the rate of tear secretion, while bromhexine caused it to increase in 70% of the controls. This side effects of bromhexine treatment encountered in the present study were negligible and transient. We consider bromhexine to be the drug of choice in the treatment of Sjögren's syndrome.