title: Successful salvage treatment of steroid-refractory bronchiolar COP with low-dose macrolides.
abstract: Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) is an idiopathic interstitial pneumonia characterized by fibroblastic tissues that occupy the lumina of alveoli and alveolar ducts or respiratory bronchioles. Although adequate doses and durations of glucocorticoids can improve its condition, COP is sometimes resistant to glucocorticoid therapy and is often lethal.Herein, a very rare case of 'bronchiolar COP' that was confined to the respiratory bronchioles is reported. This case indicates that macrolides may act as anti-inflammatory agents in patients with COP. Timely and precise pathological diagnosis may corroborate clinician diagnoses and eventually improve chances to overcome the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Anam-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-705, Korea.
authors.forename: Won Jin
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Eun Joo
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Yeub
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwang Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: In
authors.forename: Chul Hwan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Han-Kyeom
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sanghoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018549:Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D017291:Clarithromycin