Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS: A pairwise and network meta-analyses were performed to assess the efficacy of erdosteine, carbocysteine, and NAC on acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD), duration of AECOPD, and hospitalization. The frequency of adverse events (AEs) was also investigated. RESULTS: Data obtained from 2753 COPD patients were extracted from 7 RCTs published between 2004 and 2017. In the pairwise meta-analysis mucolytic/ antioxidant agents significantly reduced the risk of AECOPD (RR 0.74 95%CI 0.68-0.80). The network meta-analysis provided the following rank of effectiveness: erdosteine> carbocysteine>NAC. Only erdosteine reduced the risk of experiencing at least one AECOPD (P < 0.01) and the risk of hospitalization due to AECOPD (P < 0.05). Erdosteine and NAC both significantly reduced the duration of AECOPD (P < 0.01). The AEs induced by erdosteine, carbocysteine, and NAC were mild in severity and generally well tolerated. The quality of evidence of this quantitative synthesis is moderate. CONCLUSIONS: The overall efficacy/safety profile of erdosteine is superior to that of both carbocysteine and NAC. Future head-to-head studies performed on the same COPD populations are needed to definitely confirm the results of this meta-analysis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CRD42016053762 .
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Authors | Paola Rogliani, Maria Gabriella Matera, Clive Page, Ermanno Puxeddu, Mario Cazzola, Luigino Calzetta |
Journal | Respiratory research
(Respir Res)
Vol. 20
Issue 1
Pg. 104
(May 27 2019)
ISSN: 1465-993X [Electronic] England |
PMID | 31133026
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Meta-Analysis)
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Chemical References |
- Antioxidants
- Expectorants
- Thioglycolates
- Thiophenes
- Carbocysteine
- erdosteine
- Acetylcysteine
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Topics |
- Acetylcysteine
(adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Antioxidants
(adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Carbocysteine
(adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Expectorants
(adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Humans
- Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
(diagnosis, drug therapy, epidemiology)
- Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
(methods)
- Thioglycolates
(adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Thiophenes
(adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Treatment Outcome
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