Effectiveness of the cytoprotector ectoin in the treatment of patients with acute bronchitis

The aim was to study the effectiveness and safety of ectoine solution inhalation in comparison with saline solution for the treatment of patients with acute bronchitis (AB). <bold>Materials and methods.</bold> 66 patients (36 men and 30 women aged 18-65, ME 42.0) participated in the prospective controlled observational study, 2 groups: 33 people in each. Treatment of patients by inhalation of 2.5 ml of sprayed ectoine solution or 0.9% sodium chloride solution 2 times a day lasted 7 days. They were observed from 1 (1st visit) to 7 (2nd visit) days and a control questionnaire was administered to patients after 3 weeks. Health status was assessed by doctors on a 4-point scale. Patients rated their general health in diaries and questionnaires after 21 days on a scale from 0% (very poor) to 100% (very good). The Bronchitis Severity Scale was used to assess the severity of the five main symptoms of bronchitis: cough, chest pain, dyspnea, sputum production, and auscultation findings. After treatment, the clinical manifestations of AB decreased significantly in both groups (p < 0.05), but the effect in the ectoine group was more pronounced and was observed earlier than in the saline group. Improvement of the condition after 7 days of therapy in the ectoine group in comparison with the use of sodium chloride was observed in a shorter time (p < 0.05), and a stable therapeutic effect was maintained for at least 3 weeks after treatment (p < 0.05). Differences in area under the curve of dyspnea symptoms and auscultation results were in favor of ectoine (p < 0.05).