The effect of erythromycin on mucociliary transportability and rheology of cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis sputum.
BACKGROUND
Erythromycin has been shown to diminish sputum production in hypersecretory states by a mechanism that is still unclear.


OBJECTIVE
We have investigated the effect of erythromycin on the ciliary transportability of cystic fibrosis and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis sputum in vitro using the mucus-depleted bovine trachea.


RESULTS
Additional erythromycin in concentrations up to 20 microg/g did not significantly alter the ciliary transportability of sputum from 6 cystic fibrosis and 6 bronchiectasis patients. Sputum viscoelasticity measured with parallel-plate rheology was also little changed. These erythromycin concentrations also had little effect on the beating frequency of bovine tracheal cilia.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the presence of erythromycin in sputum neither alters the physical properties of the gel nor the activity of cilia. The clinical effects of erythromycin on pulmonary hypersecretory states therefore have another explanation.
Shibuya
Y
Y
Host Defence Unit, Royal Brompton National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UK. shibuyay@jichi.ac.jp
Wills
P J
PJ
Cole
P J
PJ
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004548:Elasticity; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance / Q000187:drug effects*; D012212:Rheology / Q000187:drug effects*; D013183:Sputum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014783:Viscosity
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004917:Erythromycin