[Therapeutic study on ambroxol in chronic bronchopulmonary diseases (author's transl)].

The clinical activity of trans-4-[(2-amino-3,5-dibromo-benzyl)-amino]-cyclohexanol-hydrochloride (ambroxol, NA 872) as well as its influence on lung function was examined in a total of 63 patients (34 suffering from silicosis, 28 from chronic obstructive bronchitis and 1 from cryptococcosis). Additionally, the content of phospholipids was controlled in the sputum of the patient group. It was shown that the activity of ambroxol was better in the silicosis group than in the bronchitis group. The cause was discussed. Presumably the twofold site of action in the silicosis group (secretolysis and surfactant stimulation) might be the reason for this.