["Epidemiology" of the value of orally administered morphine as therapy of severe pulmonary emphysema of the pink-puffer type].
OBJECTIVE
Patients with severe emphysema from pink puffer type (PPT) are symptom-limited due to dyspnea even at low level of activity. In this study we investigated the clinical effect of oral morphine in this group of patients.


METHODS
Based on the analysis of medical records (n = 456 patients) and a currently answered questionnaire (n = 205 patients) we analyzed data of all patients with emphysema being treated from 1995-1999.


RESULTS
Dyspnea improved during the adaptation period on the ward in 59.4% of the whole population being treated with morphine and in 67.7% of the analyzed patients after discharge. Before discharge the treatment with morphine was finished by 38.9% of the population. In the group of long-term survivors approximately 50% of patients continued the treatment. In total, about 10% of the collective finished the treatment due to intolerable side effects. In the 5-year observation period morphine has been increasingly applied in an earlier stage of the disease.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with severe emphysema from pink puffer type a trial with morphine is justified. In particular the beneficial effect on dyspnea in the responder group and the acceptable rate of side effects underline this strategy.
Schönhofer
B
B
Krankenhaus Kloster Grafschaft, Zentrum für Pneumologie, Beatmungs- und Schlafmedizin, Schmallenberg-Grafschaft. Bernd.Schönhofer@t-online.de
Suchi
S
S
Haidl
P
P
Köhler
D
D
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009020:Morphine