The effects of oral almitrine on pattern of breathing and gas exchange in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Almitrine at a low dose of 100 mg orally significantly raises PaO2 and lowers PaCO2 in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, compared with placebo, when they were breathing air or 28% oxygen. The estimated ideal alveolar-arterial PO2 difference was less after almitrine compared with placebo, when patients were breathing either air or 28% oxygen. After almitrine overall ventilation breathing air increased by 10% but this did not reach statistical significance. During 28% oxygen breathing almitrine hardly altered overall ventilation but the inspiratory duty cycle (Ti/Ttot.) decreased and mean inspiratory flow rate (VT/Ti) increased compared with placebo. These changes were significant on a paired t-test (P less than 0.05). Changes in both volume and pattern of breathing may explain the improved gas exchange in the lung after almitrine.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D015765:Almitrine; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000187:drug effects*; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects*
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D010879:Piperazines; D015765:Almitrine; D010100:Oxygen