| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
1 Institute of Child Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. 2 Dept of Paediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
CORRESPONDENCE: K.W. Southern, Institute of Child Health, University of Liverpool, Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital, Eaton Road, Alder Hey, Liverpool L12 2AP, UK. Fax: 44 1512525456. E-mail: kwsouth@liv.ac.uk
Keywords: Azithromycin, cystic fibrosis, forced expiratory volume in one second, randomised controlled trial, systematic review
Received: July 14, 2004
Accepted July 23, 2004
P.M. Barker has been co-investigator on a study examining clarithromycin for cystic fibrosis, which received grant support from Abbott Laboratories.
Abstract
During what is a relatively barren time for new therapies for cystic fibrosis (CF), azithromycin has received a lot of attention as a potential treatment for CF lung disease. Laboratory studies suggest that azithromycin may have indirect actions, including anti-inflammatory, in addition to the standard antibacterial properties. The unique pharmacokinetics of azithromycin sets it aside from other macrolide antibiotics, but may result in increased resistance patterns.
Three well-designed randomised controlled trials have demonstrated a small but significant improvement in respiratory function (forced expiratory volume in one second) with azithromycin compared with placebo. These trial results are confirmed by a recent meta-analysis. Mild adverse events (wheeze, diarrhoea and nausea) were significantly increased in one trial. There is no clear consensus regarding the correct dose and length of treatment with azithromycin.
The present review discusses the role of azithromycin in the management of cystic fibrosis and the need for close monitoring of patients started on this drug. In addition, clinics should liaise closely with their microbiology departments and monitor resistance patterns.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  L. D. Christensen, C. Moser, P. O. Jensen, T. B. Rasmussen, L. Christophersen, S. Kjelleberg, N. Kumar, N. Hoiby, M. Givskov, and T. Bjarnsholt Impact of Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing on biofilm persistence in an in vivo intraperitoneal foreign-body infection model Microbiology, July 1, 2007; 153(7): 2312 - 2320. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A Clement, A Tamalet, E Leroux, S Ravilly, B Fauroux, and J-P Jais Long term effects of azithromycin in patients with cystic fibrosis: a double blind, placebo controlled trial Thorax, October 1, 2006; 61(10): 895 - 902. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 V. Asgrimsson, T. Gudjonsson, G. H. Gudmundsson, and O. Baldursson Novel effects of azithromycin on tight junction proteins in human airway epithelia. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., May 1, 2006; 50(5): 1805 - 1812. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. Hill, B. Rose, A. Pajkos, M. Robinson, P. Bye, S. Bell, M. Elkins, B. Thompson, C. MacLeod, S. D. Aaron, et al. Antibiotic Susceptibilities of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates Derived from Patients with Cystic Fibrosis under Aerobic, Anaerobic, and Biofilm Conditions J. Clin. Microbiol., October 1, 2005; 43(10): 5085 - 5090. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. A. Kastelik, D. G. Peckham, and S. Conway Azithromycin in cystic fibrosis Eur. Respir. J., April 1, 2005; 25(4): 771 - 771. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
