Abstract:
Mucus hypersecretion is a clinical feature of severe respiratory diseases such
as asthma, cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Airway mucosal
infection and/or inflammation associated with these diseases often gives rise to inflammatory
products, including neutrophil-derived DNA and filamentous actin, in addition to bacteria,
apoptotic cells and cellular debris, which may collectively increase mucus production and
viscosity. Mucoactive agents have been the medication of choice for the treatment of
respiratory diseases in which mucus hypersecretion is a clinical complication. The main
purpose of mucoactive drugs is to increase the ability to expectorate sputum and/or decrease
mucus hypersecretion. Many mucoactive drugs are currently available and can be classified
according to their putative mechanism of action. Mucoactive medications include
expectorants, mucoregulators, mucolytics and mucokinetics. By developing our understanding
of the specific effects of mucoactive agents, we may result in improved therapeutic use of these
drugs. The present review provides a summary of the most clinically relevant mucoactive
drugs in addition to their potential mechanism of action.
