Nebulization of S-Carboxymethylcysteine Does Not Adversely Affect the Mucociliary System in the Paranasal Sinus and Trachea of the Healthy Rabbit

Chronic sinusitis is a persistent inflammatory impairment of the paranasal sinus. Disturbance of the mucociliary function in the paranasal sinus is the most common finding in chronic sinusitis. S-carboxymethylcysteine (S-CMC) has been shown to directly enhance the ciliary activity of the chronic sinusitis mucosa. Direct contact of the disturbed cilia with S-CMC may recover the reduced beating activity of cilia in chronic sinusitis and the mucosal pathology of the disease can thus be improved. Before S-CMC as a medicine for nebulization in the treatment of chronic sinusitis can be clinically applied, however, it should be experimentally established whether nebulization of S-CMC has any adverse effects on the mucociliary system of the respiratory mucosa. The present study was designed to experimentally examine the safety of nebulization of S-CMC especially with regard to the respiratory mucosa. Rabbits were treated with nebulization of three different concentrations of S-CMC solution for 20 min a day for 14...