Hypersecretion of mucus is the main feature of chronic bronchitis and is associated with an increased susceptibility to bronchial infections. Although airway inflammation is present in patients with chronic bronchitis and is recognised as a contributing factor in the development of bronchial hyper-reactivity and obstruction, the role of anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of chronic bronchitis has not been established. Nimesulide is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that can modulate the function of neutrophils and block the effects of several inflammatory mediators. We found that a 3-week treatment course of nimesulide in patients with chronic mucus hypersecretion decreased sputum viscosity, thus significantly improving symptoms. The effect of nimesulide on the rheological properties of mucus was slower and weaker than that of classic mucolytics and was more likely to be related to a reduction in bronchovascular permeability. The clinical usefulness of nimesulide in chronic bronchitis deserves further investigation.
