title: Beneficial response to macrolide antibiotic in a patient with desquamative interstitial pneumonia refractory to corticosteroid therapy.
abstract: Macrolide antibiotics have been shown to have a beneficial effect in a number of pulmonary conditions that are characterized by inflammation, including cystic fibrosis, asthma, and cryptogenic organizing pneumonia. We report the first case of desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP) showing a favorable response to treatment with clarithromycin. If confirmed, this observation would add DIP to the list of pulmonary disorders that are amenable to the beneficial antiinflammatory effects of macrolides.
authors.affiliation: MetroWest Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine, 115 Lincoln St, Framingham, MA 01702, USA. aknyazhitskiy@mwmc.com
authors.forename: Alexey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knyazhitskiy
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Masson
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corkey
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joiner
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018942:Macrolides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D018942:Macrolides; D017291:Clarithromycin