[Effects of mucolytic agents and macrolides in the treatment of COPD].

Mucolytic agents and macrolides have been used in the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These drugs improve symptoms, such as sputum, and quality of life in COPD patients and reduce the frequency of COPD exacerbation. Mucolytic agents have various biological effects, such as reduction of mucin production, improvement of goblet cell hyperplasia and mucociliary transport, reduction of airway inflammation, and anti-oxidant and anti-viral effects. Similarly, in addition to antimicrobial effects, macrolides have biological effects, including reduction of mucin production and airway inflammation induced by airway infection, improvement of mucociliary transport, and anti-bacterial and anti-viral effects. These biological effects may be associated with clinical benefits of mucolvtic agents and macrolides in the treatment of COPD patients.