Influence of Natural Lung Surfactant Inhalations on Clinical Symptoms and Pulmonary Function Parameters in Patients with Bronchial Asthma. Communication 1

Abstract

Background: Damage to lung surfactant (LS) enabling the lung local immunity may contribute to the development of bronchial inflammation in patients with bronchial asthma. Methods and Results: A 40-day course of 16 LS (Surfactant-BL) inhalations at the dose of 25mg was added to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and short/long-acting bronchodilators or combined inhalers in 14 patients with bronchial asthma. After 7 inhalations, patients demonstrated a significant decrease in shortness of breath and bronchospasm attacks, double reduction of ICS dose (p=0.01), and improvement of pulmonary function. Forced vital capacity (FVC) increases during treatment in a linear fashion (y=62.9+5.60•x; p<0.05), reaching the normal level (80%) after 9 inhalations (Day 15). Forced expiratory volume (FEV1) increases in a linear fashion (y=50.7+4.15•x; p<0.05) without reaching the normal level (80%) after 16 inhalations (Day 41). The FEV1/FVC ratio does not change significantly in the time period between Day 1 to Day 15. By Day 41 the value decreases significantly to 67.4±4.66% (p<0.05). The peak expiratory flow (PEF) parameter increases in a linear fashion (y=53.9+5.00•x; p<0.01) from 57.7±6.33% to 76.2±9.33% of the predicted value. Conclusion: LS inhalations improve the condition of patients with BA, allow ICS dose reduction by 2 times, and improve pulmonary function parameters.

Keywords

• lung surfactant;
• lung surfactant
• bronchial asthma
• inhaled corticosteroids
• dose
• pulmonary function