Almitrine bismesylate and oxygen therapy in hypoxic cor pulmonale.

The effect of oral treatment with the thiazine derivative almitrine bismesylate was studied in 28 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and arterial hypoxaemia receiving long term domiciliary oxygen therapy in a placebo controlled, double blind crossover trial. The initial treatment was given for three months and the second for two months. Because almitrine had an unexpectedly prolonged washout effect crossover analysis could not be performed; data from the placebo treatment administered in the second arm of the trial were used to calculate the half life of almitrine.

A conservation device for oxygen therapy in COPD.

Patients with hypoxaemia secondary to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are frequently prescribed oxygen therapy for short- and long-term domiciliary use. Oxygen administered via nasal cannulae incorporating a small collapsible reservoir ("Oxymizer", Chad Therapeutics Inc., CA, USA) improves transcutaneous oxygen tensions in the short-term when compared to standard nasal cannulae.

The effects of long term methyldopa in patients with hypoxic cor pulmonale.

Methyldopa (alpha-methyldopa) was given to patients with cor pulmonale secondary to chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD) to determine its effect on pulmonary haemodynamics. Twenty-five patients were randomly allocated to methyldopa (750 mg daily) or placebo. Pulmonary haemodynamics were measured twice, 12 months apart.

Experimental prevention of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in animals by drugs.

The rat model of chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension has been extensively studied and shows many of the features seen in man with chronic pulmonary hypertension. The development and reversibility of these changes by various treatments and by drugs is discussed. The experimental model may provide valuable clues as to the mechanisms involved in the aetiology of pulmonary hypertension in man.

Increased intracellular levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity in pulmonary endocrine cells of hypoxic rats.

The mammalian respiratory tract contains innervated groups of endocrine cells which are believed to respond to hypoxia. We have demonstrated the involvement of a specific regulatory peptide produced by the cells, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), in this response. Cells immunoreactive for CGRP or for protein gene product 9.