We evaluated the effectiveness of 1-cysteine ethyl ester, a sulf hydryl-type oral mucolytic, in 24 adults patients with chronic sinusitis. The patients received 300mg of 1-cysteine ethyl ester p. o per day for 4 weeks. Neither antiinflammatory agents nor mucolytic agents were given.
The effectiveness of 1-cysteine ethyl ester on subjective symptoms and rhinoscopic observations was 63%. X-ray opacity of the maxillary sinus was evaluated with a microdensitometer. The pre- and post- treatment data were compared in 10 patients (20 maxillary sinuses). The improvement of X-ray opacity following 1-cysteine ethyl ester treatment was noted in 45%. Nasal mucociliary clearance examined by the saccharin method (ST) was measured in 19 patients. Before the treatment, nasal ST was decelerates in 15 patients. After the treatment, their nasal ST had significantly improved. The general effectiveness of 1-cysteine ethyl ester on subjective symptoms, rhinoscopic observations and X-ray opacity was 60%.