NEDOCROMIL SODIUM IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC BRONCHIAL INFECTION

A double-blind parallel group comparative pilot study was carried out in patients with bronchiectasis to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effe ct of nedocromil sodium in chronic bronchial infection. Patients were randomized to either a nedocromil sodium metered dose inhaler, 4 mg, f our times daily, or placebo for 12 weeks. Clinical symptoms, lung func tion tests and sputum characteristics of volume, purulence, leucocyte count, neutrophil chemotactic activity and elastolytic activity were e valuated at baseline, after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of the trial. Patients w ere withdrawn when they had acute infective exacerbation. There were 1 3 evaluable patients and results were statistically analysed at 8 week s due to the limited number of patients remaining in the study at 12 w eeks. There was no significant change in any of the parameters in eith er active or placebo group. Hence, nedocromil sodium has not been foun d to contribute to the management of stable bronchiectasis in this stu dy and larger studies are required to identify more modest effects.