[Clinical effectiveness of aprotinin aerosol in influenza and parainfluenza]

Aprotinin aerosol has been previously shown to have protective effects in experimental influenza- and parainfluenza-induced bronchopneumonias in animals. This paper presents the results of controlled clinical studies to evaluate the therapeutical efficiency of aprotinin aerosol in natural influenza and parainfluenza infections in human beings. A total of 52 patients were followed up. They received either soda (placebo) or aprotinin inhalations thrice a day for 4-5 days. The following mean duration (in days) of symptoms was found in the control (placebo-treated) and aprotinin-treated patients. These were: 2.5 versus 1.8 for fever, 2.0 versus 1.5 for headache, 2.9 versus 1.8 for weakness, 3.9 and 2.8 for common cold, 3.1 versus 1.6 for sore throat, 4.9 versus 2.8 for pharyngeal hyperemia, 4.9 versus 4.0 for cough, and 3.5 versus 1.3 for hoarse voice (p < 0.05). Inhaled aprotinin was well tolerated by the patients and caused no topical irritating effects and allergic reactions. The findings demonstrate the noticeable clinical efficacy of aprotinin aerosol in human influenza and parainfluenza.