[New drug therapy of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

The progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) can be inhibited by smoking cessation. As adjunct drugs, nicotine replacement therapy and an antidepressant bupropion are found to improve the abstinence rate from smoking. The mainstay of drug therapy of COPD consists of bronchodilators. Inhaled long-acting anticholinergic agents are in development. Inhaled long-acting beta 2-agonists are newly available. Theophylline has weak antiinflammatory effects. The significance of corticosteroids and mucolytic drugs in stable COPD is yet to be elucidated. In severely hypoxemic patients with COPD long-term domicillary oxygen therapy improves the survival rate. There is no drug therapy which can prevent the long-term deterioration of pulmonary function in patients with COPD. New class of drugs are now in development.