Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0034067 (emphysema)
 11,506 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Roflumilast (3-cyclopropylmethoxy-4-difluoromethoxy-n-(3,5-dichloropyrid-4-yl)benzamide) was the first agent of a novel pharmacological class, selective phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE(4)) inhibitors, approved for the use of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The molecular mechanism of action of roflumilast is inhibition of the PDE(4) isoenzyme with a consequent increase of cyclic adenosine monophosphate. Roflumilast evidently has several pharmacological effects: antiinflammatory, anti-emphysema, and antibiotic actions. This drug also inhibits pulmonary hypertension and reduces mucus hypersecretion. The pharmacological actions leading to these effects are: a) inhibition of reactive oxygen species formation in epithelial cells, neutrophils and smooth muscle cells; b) inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation in the pulmonary artery, endothelial cells and probably some inflammatory cells causing pulmonary vascular remodeling; c) inhibition of fibroblasts, with a consequent reduction in pulmonary remodeling and, finally, d) inhibition of mucus production and improved ciliary beat frequency. In summary, roflumilast is the first non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that can be used in the treatment of COPD.
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PMID:[Pharmacological profile of roflumilast]. 2131 52

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex and heterogeneous disease, that is defined by the degree of obstruction rendered by the forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEVj). This is a good parameter to define the severity of the disease but does not account for its heterogeneity and does not provide a good comprehension of its different clinical behaviors and responses to treatment. Therefore, the classification of these patients in different clinical phenotypes has been attempted, trying to search for common clinical behaviors and responses to treatment. These phenoptypes must be validated in longitudinal studies. Some of the phenotypes detected are COPD with chronic respiratory failure and responsive to home oxygen therapy, COPD with upper lobe emphysema and responsive to volume reduction surgery, COPD with frequent exacerbation behavior, COPD resembling bronchitis and responsive to Roflumilast and possibly, COPD with systemic involvement. Historically, the phenotypes pink puffer, blue bloater, chronic bronchitis were defined. In the next years, we will know if the definitions of these phenotypes will aid in the management of patients with COPD.
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PMID:[Clinical phenotypes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. 2328 8