Indian Journal of Respiratory Care

IJRC Email      Register      Login

VOLUME 12 , ISSUE 3 ( July-September, 2023 ) > List of Articles

Original Article

A Comparative Study to Assess Efficacy and Safety of NAC Combination and NAC in Patients of Productive Cough with Acute Bronchitis

Harsh J Shah, Ankit Singh, Jacky Pariyani, Kalyani V Shinde, Paarth Kumar

Keywords : Bronchitis, Cough, Lactoferrin, Respiratory

Citation Information : Shah HJ, Singh A, Pariyani J, Shinde KV, Kumar P. A Comparative Study to Assess Efficacy and Safety of NAC Combination and NAC in Patients of Productive Cough with Acute Bronchitis. Indian J Respir Care 2023; 12 (3):254-258.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-11010-1065

License: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Published Online: 30-10-2023

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2023; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by the impact of bad air, often progressive and irreversible, caused by a combination of different lung diseases, damage to the lungs, and emphysema, followed by inhalation of bad air and gases, especially smoke, causes, and often affects lung disease with many differences. By adding lactoferrin along with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), it targets nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), which is responsible for inflammatory responses. This combination of NAC 600 + lactoferrin 50 mg offers synergistic effects and reduces mucus hypersecretion (as a mucolytic agent). Objective: This study was a randomized, open-label, actively controlled, prospective, single-center, two-arm, parallel to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the combination of NAC 600 + lactoferrin 50 mg against NAC 600 mg in the symptomatic treatment of patients suffering from productive cough associated with acute bronchitis. Materials and methods: The study was conducted under a qualified investigator at a single center in India. To assess the primary efficacy of the investigational products, assessment through a modified cough and sputum relief questionnaire was evaluated at baseline days 0, 3, 5, and 8. Secondary efficacy was evaluated through a 7-point Likert scale, bronchial severity score (BSS), and global clinical impression of improvement or change (CGIC); secondary safety endpoints were measured through adverse events (AEs) or serious AEs (SAEs) collected during the study. Results: It was observed that the combination of NAC and lactoferrin showed better primary and secondary efficacy results with respect to the treatment of acute bronchitis. The rate of reduction in the severity of acute bronchitis and improvement of breathing condition/general well-being is also showing better results in combination products compared to NAC 600 mg. SAEs were not reported during the conduct of the study. Conclusion: Based on the study results/data, it can be concluded that the combination of NAC and Lactoferrin shows better efficacy results with no linked AEs with respect to the treatment of acute bronchitis compared to single treatment. However, long-term studies will be done to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the combination of NAC and lactoferrin.


PDF Share
  1. Erjefalt JS, Erjefalt I, Sundler F, et al. In vivo restitution of airway epithelium. Cell Tissue Res 1995;281(2):305–316. DOI: 10.1007/BF00583399
  2. Rogers DF. Physiology of airway mucus secretion and pathophysiology of hypersecretion. Respir Care 2007:52(9):1134–1146.
  3. Dignass AU, Podolsky DK. Cytokine modulation of intestinal epithelial cell restitution: central role of transforming growth factor beta. Gastroenterology 1993;105(5):1323–1332. DOI: 10.1016/0016-5085(93)90136-z
  4. Shao MX, Nadel JA. Neutrophil elastase induces MUC5AC mucin production in human airway epithelial cells via a cascade involving protein kinase C, reactive oxygen species, and TNF-alpha-converting enzyme. J Immunol 2005;175(6):4009–4016. DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.175.6.4009
  5. Zheng JP, Wen FQ, Bai CX, et al. High-dose N-acetylcysteine in the prevention of COPD exacerbations: rationale and design of the PANTHEON study. COPD 2013;10(2):164–171. DOI: 10.3109/15412555.2012.732628
  6. Schappert SM. National ambulatory medical care survey: 1991 summary. Vital Health Stat 13 1994,116:1–110.
  7. McGarvey LPA, Heaney LG, MacMahon J. A retrospective survey of diagnosis and management of patients presenting with chronic cough to a general chest clinic. Int J Clin Part 1998;52(3):158–161. DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-1241.1998.tb11595.x
  8. Birring SS, Prudon B, Carr AJ, et al. Development of a symptom specific health status measure for patients with chronic cough: Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ). Thorax 2003;58(4):339–343. DOI: 10.1136/thorax.58.4.339
  9. French CT, Irwin RS, Fletcher KE, et al. Evaluation of cough-specific quality of life questionnaire. Chest 2002;121(4):1123–1131. DOI: 10.1378/chest.121.4.1123
  10. John M. Wilkinson, MD. Acute bronchitis: Is it contagious? May 16, 2019. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bronchitis/expert-answers/acute-bronchitis/faq-20057839.
  11. Singh A, Avula A, Zahn E. Acute Bronchitis. [Updated 2023 Jul 13]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448067/
  12. Tackett KL, Atkins A. Evidence-based acute bronchitis therapy. J Pharm Pract 2012;25(6):586–590. DOI: 10.1177/0897190012460826
  13. Sadowska AM, Verbraecken J, Darquennes K, et al. Role of N-acetylcysteine in the management of COPD. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2006;1(4):425–434. DOI: 10.2147/copd.2006.1.4.425
  14. Wakabayashi H, Oda H, Yamauchi K, et al. Lactoferrin for prevention of common viral infections. J Infect Chemother 2014;20(11):666–671. DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2014.08.003
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.