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The anti-inflammatory drug flurbiprofen speeds the repair of cigarette smoke-induced bronchial secretory cell metaplasia (SCM) in rats. We tested whether flurbiprofen would prevent or mitigate the development of elastase-induced bronchial SCM in hamsters. Twice daily injections of flurbiprofen (4 or 6 mg.kg-1.day-1) were begun immediately after intertracheal instillation of porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) or its vehicle, saline. At 3 wks, the bronchi of these animals were compared to those of animals receiving PPE or saline. PPE-treated hamsters, with or without flurbiprofen, developed moderate to severe SCM. Control hamsters had normal airways. Flurbiprofen had no effect on the neutrophilic pulmonary infiltrate seen 2 h after PPE instillation. We conclude that the development of elastase-induced SCM in hamsters is not affected by a flurbiprofen regimen begun directly after elastase instillation. The pathogenesis of this lesion may involve factors which are insensitive to flurbiprofen or which trigger the lesion immediately upon exposure to the enzyme.