Effects of various expectorants on sputum viscoelasticity in vivo
Shimura, S.; Sato, S.; Aoki, T.; Takishima, T.
Nihon Kyobu Shikkan Gakkai Zasshi 18(3): 161-170
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-1542 PMID: 7392320 Document Number: 161287
Patients [22] with chronic pulmonary disease were treated with 3 different expectorants for 1 wk. Group A, 9 cases, received 100 ch. u. daily of .alpha.-chymotrypsin buccule, administered orally. Group B, 7 cases, received 24 mg daily of bromhexine hydrochloride, administered orally, Group C, 6 cases, received 30 mg daily of Serratiopeptidase, administered orally. The effects of the expectorants on sputum viscoelasticity in vivo were studied over frequencies from 10-3-10.degree. rad .cntdot. s-1 using the raised cosine pulse method. The symptoms of expectoration and/or coughing improved in about half of the cases in each group, and the differences among the groups were not pronounced. In group B the absolute values of G' (storage modulus) and G'' (loss modulus) in 5 cases (71%) decreased over all frequencies after treatment. No clear change, as a group, was found in the absolute values of G' and G'' from the cases in groups A and C. The peak of G'', which indicated a relaxation region, became more distinct after treatment than before in 7 cases (78%) of group A and 3 cases (50%) of group C. In group B this change of the peak of G'' was seen in only 1 case (17%). The incidence of the change of the peak of G'' in group A was significantly different from that in group B (P < 0.01, Chi-square test).