Clinical Question: In adults with a...

Clinical Question: In adults with acute bronchitis symptoms of short duration, is an extract of Pelargonium sidoides more effective than placebo in reducing symptoms?

Setting: Outpatient (any)

cogitation Design: randomized controlled trial (double-blinded)

Allocation: Concealed

Synopsis: Pelargonium sidoides is approved in several countries for the treatment of acute respiratory tract infection based forward a possible antimicrobial or immune modulation action. russian, German, and American researchers administrationed this study using a radical preparation available in Germany (Umckaloabo). They recruited 124 patients from outpatient clinics in russia who had had acute bronchitis symptoms for les than 48 hours, defined clinically and by means of a bronchitis severity score (BSS) greater than 4 disclosed of a possible 20 (average score = 9) The BS rates cough sputum rales or rhonchi, chest pain during coughing, and dyspnea, each forward a score from 0 to 4

Approximately 25 percent of the patients were passing from hand to hand smokers and another 31 percent had the designation of "no remark or classification not possible." The patients were randomized, using concealed allocation, to receive taste- and color-matched placebo or the pelargonium extract at a dose of 15 mL (30 drops) three times daily for eight days. The intention-to-treat analysis was performed with the statistician blinded to treatment assignment.

At the conclusion of treatment, BSS scores had decreased by dint of an average of 7.2 points in the treatment assemblage compared with 4.9 points in the placebo-treated patients (absolute difference = 23 points; 95% confidence interval, 12 to 36; P < 001) More than 90 percent of patients in the treated arrange had a BSS greater than 5; the rate in the placebo cluster was 52 percent (P < 001) Significantly more patients receiving treatment reported satisfaction than did those receiving placebo (80 versus 43 percent; number distressed to treat = 2.7).

Bottom Line: Pelargonium sidoides extract produc a significantly greater reduction in symptoms of acute bronchitis than placebo, and more patients were satisfied with treatment. As with all herbal performances results may vary. (Level of Evidence: 1b)

ALLEN F SHAUGHNESSY, PHARM.D.

investigation Reference: Chuchalin AG, et al. Treatment of acute bronchitis in adults with a Pelargonium sidoides preparation (EP 7630): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Explore November 2005;1:437-45

Used with permission from Shaughnessy AF. Pelargonium effective for acute bronchitis symptoms. Accessed online January 18 2006 at: http://www.InfoPOEMs.com.

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