title: Macrolide antibiotic therapy in patients with cystic fibrosis.
abstract: This summary of the current knowledge of macrolide therapy serves as an example of recent progress in the therapeutic approach to treating patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The benefit of macrolides in the treatment of patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, as seen in Japan, was the rational behind trials in patients with CF. Thus far, the majority of reports of positive trends in the therapeutic potential of macrolides have studied azithromycin. The data presented in peer reviewed journals are, however, too sparse to already justify firm recommendations for the general use of azithromycin, erythromycin or clarithromycin on a long-term basis for the treatment of chronic lung disease in CF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Berne, Berne. martin.h.schoeni@insel.ch
authors.forename: Martin H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Schöni
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004917:Erythromycin; D017963:Azithromycin; D017291:Clarithromycin