Chronic inhalation of nebulized levalbuterol does not increase mucociliary clearance in healthy subjects.

Acute inhalations of beta 2-adrenergic receptor agonists increase mucociliary clearance (MCC). Less is known about the effect of long-term inhalations of these agents on MCC, or cough clearance (CC). We hypothesized that chronic inhalations of nebulized levalbuterol, the R-isomer of albuterol, would enhance MCC and/or CC in healthy subjects, compared to albuterol or placebo.

Albuterol improves impaired mucociliary clearance after lung transplantation.

Background: Previous studies have shown that mucociliary clearance (MCC) is diminished after lung transplantation. However, it is unknown how early this deficit occurs after transplantation, or whether the abnormality can be improved by pharmacologic means. We hypothesized that impairment of MCC is evident soon after lung transplantation and that the defect in MCC can be improved by inhaled beta(2)-adrenergic receptor agonists.