Iodinated glycerol has no effect on pulmonary function, symptom score, or sputum properties in patients with stable chronic bronchitis.
OBJECTIVE
It has been reported that therapy with iodinated glycerol (IG) can improve the quality of life for patients with chronic bronchitis. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of IG therapy on the quality of life, pulmonary function, and on the properties of sputum collected from adults with stable chronic bronchitis.


METHODS
Thirty-two week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled cross-over study.


METHODS
A university outpatient pulmonary clinic.


METHODS
Twenty-six adults with stable chronic bronchitis completed the study; 28 completed the first treatment arm.


METHODS
Sixteen weeks each of placebo or IG 60 mg qid.


METHODS
First, pulmonary function by spirometry and plethysmography. Second, symptom score measured using a questionnaire. Third, sputum bulk and surface rheology, spinnability, mucociliary transportability and cough transportability.


RESULTS
There were no significant changes in pulmonary function, clinical scores, or sputum properties related to therapy with IG. There was a significant improvement in the Global Petty score after both IG (p = 0.01) and placebo (p < 0.01) when compared with baseline, but there was no difference between treatment periods. There was a positive correlation between changes in the Global score during therapy and changes in sputum spinnability (p < 0.01, r = 0.38).


CONCLUSIONS
This study clearly demonstrates that in chronic bronchitis, 16 weeks of therapy with IG does not produce any appreciable effect on pulmonary function, well being, or on sputum viscoelasticity or clearability.
Rubin
B K
BK
Pediatric Research Institute Mucociliary Physiology Laboratories, St. Louis University School of Medicine, USA.
Ramirez
O
O
Ohar
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005100:Expectorants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005990:Glycerol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D005100:Expectorants; C015372:iodinated glycerol; D005990:Glycerol