BRONCUS: acetylcysteine in reducing lung-function decline

  • Burrill, Peter MRPharmS, DipPresSci, MFPMMCPP

  • Peter Burrill is assistant director of public health (Prescribing and Clinical Effectiveness) for the North Derbyshire Public Health Network

Prescriber 17(4):p 52-54, February 19, 2006.

A randomised controlled trial published in a peer-reviewed journal is considered to be the ‘gold standard’ of information about the effectiveness of a treatment; however, critical appraisal of trials is required in order to judge the value and implications of the results. Here, Peter Burrill presents his appraisal of a recent study assessing the effect of N-acetylcysteine in reducing the decline in lung function seen in patients with COPD.

Decramer M, Rutten-van Molken M, Dekhuijzen PRN,et al.Effects of N-acetylcysteine on outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Bronchitis Randomized on NAC Cost-Utility Study, BRONCUS): a randomised placebo-controlled trial.Lancet2005;365:1552-60.

Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.