title: [Organizing pneumonia--clarithromycin treatment].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Organizing pneumonia (OP) is a rare syndrome that has been associated with a variety of underlying factors including infections, collagen vascular diseases, toxic fumes, cancer, drugs and radiotherapy. A cryptogenic form is also observed. OP is a curable disease in the most cases. Steroids are the standard therapy, but other treatment regimens have been used as well.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the period from 1999 to 2005, 9 women and 3 men (age range 44-71 years) with OP were selected for the study. There were 9 non-smokers, 2 smokers and 1 ex-smoker. Open lung biopsy was performed in 5 patients, and in 7 patients diagnosis was established on the basis of transbronchial lung biopsy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dyspnoea (100%), cough (100%), weakness (100%), fever (83%), loss of weight (83%), sweats (33%) and chest pain (8%) were the most frequently noticed symptoms. Radiographically, all patients had bilateral consolidations with areas of ground glass attenuations. A migratory pattern of these lesions was observed in 9 (75%) patients. In all patients clarithromycin (CLA) in a dose 0.5 g b.i.d was administered. Nine (75%) patients were successfully treated. Complete clinical and radiological remission was obtained after 3 months of CLA therapy in 7 and a partial response in an additional 2 patients, in whom treatment was prolonged to 4 months. During the first month of CLA treatment 3 patients did not respond to the therapy, and prednisone was introduced. The observation period ranged from 30 to 90 months (mean 42 months). Adverse reaction to CLA and relapse did not occur.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OP can be treated with clarithromycin. It may be an alternative treatment, particularly for patients in good clinical status and in whom the probability of adverse events in the course of corticotherapy is high.
authors.affiliation: III Klinika Chorób Płuc Instytutu Gruźlicy i Chorób Płuc w Warszawie Kierownik. e.radzikowska@igichp.edu.pl
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Radzikowska
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wiatr
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gawryluk
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Langfort
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bestry
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chabowski
authors.forename: Kazimierz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roszkowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001706:Biopsy; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology; D018549:Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017291:Clarithromycin