Epidemiology concerning the effect of oral administration of morphine in patients with emphysema from pink puffer type

Objectives: 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 pati ents. Materials and Methods: Based on the analysis of medical records (n = 456 pa tients) and a currently answered questionnaire (n = 205 patients) we analyz ed 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 an alyzed patients after discharge. Before discharge the treatment with morphi ne was finished by 38.9% of the population. In the group of long-term survi vors approximately 50% of patients continued the treatment. In total, about 10% of the collective finished the treatment due to intolerable side effec ts. In the 5-year observation period morphine has been increasingly applied in an earlier stage of the disease, Conclusion: 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 t his strategy.