Erdosteine: its relevance in COPD treatment

Abstract

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive condition characterized by airflow limitation, which is largely irreversible; the oxidant/antioxidant imbalance is important in the pathogenesis of this condition. Obiective: To show that administration of erdosteine, a mucolytic agent with a prevalent antioxidant activity, could play a beneficial role in COPD. Methods: To review the experimental and clinical trials on erdosteine in COPD and chronic bronchitis. Results: Erdosteine is a thiol agent with a multifactorial mechanism of action, namely: mucolytic, antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. In the acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis/COPD, addition of erdosteine 300 mg twice a day for 7 – 10 days to standard treatment improves the symptoms and reduces the time of disease. In clinically stable COPD, long-term treatment is associated with a reduction in acute exacerbation and hospitalization rate and a significant improvement of quality of life. Erdosteine could be most beneficial in patients who have repeated, prolonged or severe exacerbations of COPD.

Keywords::

• antioxidative treatment
• chronic bronchitis
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• erdosteine
• mucolytic agent
• oxidative stress

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