HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (14) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lode, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lode, H.

Levofloxacin versus clarithromycin in COPD exacerbation: focus on exacerbation-free interval

Helios Hospital Emil von Behring, Berlin, Germany

CORRESPONDENCE: H. Lode, Helios Klinikum Emil von Behring, Zum Heckeshorn 33, D-14109 Berlin, Germany. Fax: 49 3080022623. E-mail: haloheck@zedat.fu-berlin.de

Keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, clarithromycin, exacerbation, exacerbation-free interval, levofloxacin

Received: January 23, 2004
Accepted July 16, 2004

This study was supported by a grant from Aventis Pharma, Bad Soden, Germany.

Antibiotic treatment of bacterial exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) shows some immediate clinical benefits and may also minimise the frequency of further recurrences.

Patients (n=511) were enrolled into a randomised double-blind multicentric study comparing the exacerbation-free interval (EFI), efficacy and safety of 7-day levofloxacin versus 10-day clarithromycin in patients with COPD exacerbation. Patients were monitored over a 1-yr period. A total of 434 patients (per protocol population) received the medication for 5 days.

The median EFI in the per protocol population was 300 days for levofloxacin and 350 days for clarithromycin. For patients with a new documented exacerbation during follow-up (n=223), the median EFI was 100.5 days in the levofloxacin group and 95 days for clarithromycin. No significant differences in EFI between groups could be observed when stratifying the study population according to microbial aetiology and severity of bronchial obstruction. Levofloxacin and clarithromycin showed similar clinical success rates. The bacteriological success rate was significantly higher in the levofloxacin group. Both antibiotics were well tolerated.

In summary, levofloxacin was associated with a significantly higher bacteriological eradication rate but similar exacerbation-free interval in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation compared to clarithromycin.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Miravitlles Review: Do we need new antibiotics for treating exacerbations of COPD? Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease, October 1, 2007; 1(1): 61 - 76. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. R. Celli and P. J. Barnes Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Eur. Respir. J., June 1, 2007; 29(6): 1224 - 1238. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. I. Siempos, G. Dimopoulos, I. P. Korbila, K. Manta, and M. E. Falagas Macrolides, quinolones and amoxicillin/clavulanate for chronic bronchitis: a meta-analysis Eur. Respir. J., June 1, 2007; 29(6): 1127 - 1137. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R Wilson, P Jones, T Schaberg, P Arvis, I Duprat-Lomon, P P Sagnier, and for the MOSAIC Study Group Antibiotic treatment and factors influencing short and long term outcomes of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis Thorax, April 1, 2006; 61(4): 337 - 342. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Miravitlles and A. Torres Antibiotics in exacerbations of COPD: lessons from the past Eur. Respir. J., December 1, 2004; 24(6): 896 - 897. [Full Text] [PDF]