["Epidemiology" of the value of orally administered morphine as therapy of severe pulmonary emphysema of the pink-puffer type].

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Patients with severe emphysema from pink puffer type (PPT) are symptom-limited due to dyspnea even at low level of activity. In this study we investigated the clinical effect of oral morphine in this group of patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Based on the analysis of medical records (n = 456 patients) and a currently answered questionnaire (n = 205 patients) we analyzed data of all patients with emphysema being treated from 1995-1999.

RESULTS:

Dyspnea improved during the adaptation period on the ward in 59.4% of the whole population being treated with morphine and in 67.7% of the analyzed patients after discharge. Before discharge the treatment with morphine was finished by 38.9% of the population. In the group of long-term survivors approximately 50% of patients continued the treatment. In total, about 10% of the collective finished the treatment due to intolerable side effects. In the 5-year observation period morphine has been increasingly applied in an earlier stage of the disease.

CONCLUSION:

In patients with severe emphysema from pink puffer type a trial with morphine is justified. In particular the beneficial effect on dyspnea in the responder group and the acceptable rate of side effects underline this strategy.

• Authors: B Schönhofer, S Suchi, P Haidl, D Köhler
• Journal: Medizinische Klinik (Munich, Germany : 1983) (Med Klin (Munich)) Vol. 96 Issue 6 Pg. 325-30 (Jun 15 2001) ISSN: 0723-5003 [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Eine "Epidemiologie" zum Stellenwert von oral appliziertem Morphium als Therapieform des schwergradigen Lungenemphysems vom Pink-Puffer-Typ.
• PMID: 11450584 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Morphine

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Aged
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Dyspnea (classification, drug therapy)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Lung Diseases, Obstructive (classification, drug therapy)
• Lung Volume Measurements
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Morphine (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Pulmonary Emphysema (classification, drug therapy)
• Quality of Life
• Treatment Outcome