Chronic macrolide therapy in inflammatory airways diseases.
Long-term therapy with the macrolide antibiotic erythromycin was shown to alter the clinical course of diffuse panbronchiolitis in the late 1980s. Since that time, macrolides have been found to have a large number of antiinflammatory properties in addition to being antimicrobials. These observations provided the rationale for many studies performed over the last decade to assess the usefulness of macrolides in other inflammatory airways diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, COPD, and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. This review summarizes the immunomodulatory properties of macrolides and the results of these recent studies demonstrating their potential for being disease-modifying agents.
Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, National Jewish Health, 1400 Jackson St, Denver, CO 80206, USA. Adam.Friedlander@UCDenver.edu
Adam L
AL
Friedlander
Richard K
RK
Albert
D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D018942:Macrolides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018942:Macrolides