Long-term clarithromycin therapy in the management of lung transplant recipients.
BACKGROUND
The successful use of azithromycin in lung transplant recipients with Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome (BOS) has been described, its mechanisms of action, however, are not known. We report the largest experience of long-term clarithromycin (CLAR) in lung transplant patients with BOS or potential BOS.


METHODS
Transplant recipients receiving CLAR for BOS or potential BOS were included (2000-2008). Response to CLAR was defined as an FEV1 increase of >10% at 6 months compared to the FEV1 recorded at initiation of CLAR.


RESULTS
31 patients were included. 12 recipients (39%) responded to CLAR after 6 months, 10/12 recipients responded already after 3 months. Responders showed a mean FEV1 increase of 732 mL (95% CI: 537-938 mL) by 6 months (p<0.001). Overall, patients experienced a FEV1 decline of 181 mL/month prior to CLAR, and a 25 mL/month decline over the 6-months after initiation of CLAR; p=0.015, mean (95% CI) change in rate of decline 155 (32-279).


CONCLUSIONS
We show that long-term CLAR effectively improves lung function in more than one-third of recipients with BOS or potential BOS, comparable to results reported with long-term azithromycin.
Benden
Christian
C
Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Boehler
Annette
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017291:Clarithromycin