Abstract
Introduction: Acute COPD exacerbations (AECOPD) represent an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Early and effective interventions may improve their outcome and patients' health status. Objective: This study evaluated the effect of ambrobene retard, on airflow limitation and symptom recovery at AECOPD Methods: 17COPD patients hospitalized for an acute exacerbation randomly received ambrobene retard 75 mg / day (A) or placebo (P) for 10 days in combination with standard steroid, antibiotic and bronchodilator treatment. Pulmonary function test including spirometry (FVC, FEV1, FEF25–75) and breathlessness, cough, and sputum scale (BCSS) were measured at hospital admission, and 30 days post-exacerbation. Results: The improvement of lung function parameters and symptom scores from baseline was significantly greater in patients receiving ambrobene retard. Symptom score recovery significantly correlated to improvement of airway obstruction at time 30 in the ambrobene retard group. Conclusions: Treatment with ambrobene retard plus standard therapy in AECOPD proved to be effective in improving both clinical symptoms, and large and small airway impairment Effect of ambrobene retard on airflow obstruction and symptom recovery in severe COPD exacerbations Time FEV1, ml FEV1,% pred FVC,ml FVC, %pred FEF25-75%, ml/sec Symptoms score Ambrobene retard, Baseline 1202 48.1 2068 58,8 457 8.1 30 days 1574* 67.4** 2849* 83.7* 811* 2.7* Placebo, Baseline 1143 44.8 2058 61.3 335 7.6 30 days 1287 50.2 2470 71.7 473 3.8 *p<0,05 and **p<0.01 vs. P. .