The macrolide antibacterial roxithromycin reduces bronchial hyperresponsiveness and superoxide anion production by polymorphonuclear leukocytes in patients with asthma.
We investigated the effects of a macrolide antibacterial, roxithromycin, on the generation of free radicals by peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and on the severity of bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Ten asthmatic patients were treated for 3 months with roxithromycin, 150 mg orally once daily; such treatment significantly reduced the production of superoxide anion by PMNs (p = 0.0029) and reduced the bronchial hyperreactivity (p = 0.0016), as compared with results in healthy controls. Most of the patients required at least 2 months of treatment with roxithromycin for clinical improvement. We conclude that long-term, low-dose administration of roxithromycin may be useful in treatment of patients with bronchial asthma.
Kamoi
H
H
First Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka City University Medical School, Japan.
Kurihara
N
N
Fujiwara
H
H
Hirata
K
K
Takeda
T
T
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015575:Roxithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D013481:Superoxides; D015575:Roxithromycin