title: Alternative therapies for chronic bronchitis.
abstract: Alternative therapies for chronic bronchitis are therapies in which clinical efficacy is not well established. These can be broadly divided into expectorants, mucolytics, mucokinetics, antiproteases, antioxidants, and immunostimulants. Data supporting these therapies may be present in disorders clinically similar to chronic bronchitis, such as cystic fibrosis. Alternatively, these therapies may be based on clinical observations or in vitro studies that suggest a potential therapeutic benefit. Establishment of these therapies is likely to require more extensive investigation before their use is routinely recommended. Until such data is available, the clinician can only use his or her clinical judgement regarding the likely risk-benefit ratio.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Louisiana State University Medical Center at Shreveport, USA.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Robbins
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005100:Expectorants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014612:Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000975:Antioxidants; D005100:Expectorants; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014612:Vaccines