title: The effect of sodium 2-mercapto-ethane sulphonate and hypertonic saline aerosols on bronchial clearance in chronic bronchitis.
abstract: 1  The efficacy of a mucolytic agent, 2-mercapto-ethane sulphonate, administered in the form of an aerosol was evaluated in a group of eleven patients with chronic bronchitis in a controlled, double-blind, crossover study. 2  Saline aerosol isotonic (1.21M, 7.1%) to the drug was used as a placebo. 3  Approximately 1 ml drug/placebo was inhaled by the patients twice a day for 3 days and a final dose was given on the mornings of the drug/placebo trial runs. 4  There was no improvement in this group of patients in lung function or subjective well being attributable to the drug. 5  The viscosity of sputum, dry macromolecular weight and N-acetyl neuraminic acid/fucose ratio remained unaltered throughout the study. 6  An enhancement of tracheobronchial clearance was obtained following the administration of either placebo (31%) or drug aerosols (24%) Statistical significance (P less than 0.01) was only achieved for the placebo and was attributed to an increase in sputum volume.
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005100:Expectorants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008623:Mercaptoethanol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D015080:Mesna / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012212:Rheology; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D005100:Expectorants; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D008623:Mercaptoethanol; D015080:Mesna