Effects of protriptyline on diurnal and nocturnal oxygenation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the effects of a nonsedating tricyclic antidepressant (protriptyline) on pulmonary function (lung volume, expiratory flow), arterial blood gases, sleep architecture, and sleep-induced breathing abnormalities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

DESIGN:

A before-and-after trial in which patients, blinded to treatment, were given a placebo for 2 weeks, followed by 2 and 10 weeks of protriptyline treatment.

SETTING:

Referral-based pulmonology clinic in a public institution.

PATIENTS:

Sixteen outpatients were enrolled in the trial. Complete results for 11 patients and partial results for 3 patients are presented.

INTERVENTIONS:

Patients were evaluated at baseline, after receiving placebo for 2 weeks, and after 2 and 10 weeks of protriptyline therapy (20 mg/d, taken at bedtime).

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

At baseline, for the whole group, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was 1.0 +/- 0.08 L (mean +/- SE); the partial pressure of O2 in arterial blood (PaO2) was 59 +/- 1.2 mm Hg; and the partial pressure of CO2 in arterial blood (PaCO2) was 48.9 +/- 1.2 mm Hg. These variables remained stable after placebo. Pulmonary function test results were unchanged with protriptyline therapy. Arterial blood gas levels improved with such therapy: PaO2 levels increased by 5.1 +/- 1.4 mm Hg after 2 weeks and 6.7 +/- 2.4 mm Hg after 10 weeks (P less than 0.01); PaCO2 levels decreased by 4.2 +/- 0.9 mm Hg after 2 weeks and 2.2 +/- 1.1 mm Hg after 10 weeks (P less than 0.01). Total sleep times were similar at these visits. The only change in sleep architecture was a significant decrease in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. The lowest value for the saturation of hemoglobin with O2 in arterial blood (SaO2) seen during sleep was 72.0% +/- 2.0% at baseline. After 2 and 10 weeks of protriptyline therapy, SaO2 values increased by 7.1% +/- 1.6% and 5.0% +/- 2.1%, respectively (P less than 0.01). With protriptyline therapy, the cumulative SaO2 curve, derived from data obtained during sleep, shifted down and to the right.

CONCLUSIONS:

Protriptyline improves diurnal and nocturnal hypoxemia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These changes are not related to changes in pulmonary mechanics.

• Authors: F Sériès, Y Cormier
• Journal: Annals of internal medicine (Ann Intern Med) Vol. 113 Issue 7 Pg. 507-11 (Oct 01 1990) ISSN: 0003-4819 [Print] United States
• PMID: 2393207 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Dibenzocycloheptenes
• Protriptyline
• Oxygen

Topics

• Circadian Rhythm (drug effects)
• Dibenzocycloheptenes (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Lung Diseases, Obstructive (blood, drug therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Oxygen (blood)
• Protriptyline (therapeutic use)
• Respiratory Function Tests
• Single-Blind Method
• Sleep (drug effects, physiology)