TY - JOUR T1 - Safety and tolerability of clarithromycin in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.01612-2016 VL - 49 IS - 3 SP - 1601612 AU - Anne-Fleur Louise Van der Paardt AU - Onno W. Akkerman AU - Gina Gualano AU - Fabrizio Palmieri AU - Lina Davies Forsman AU - Alena Aleksa AU - Simon Tiberi AU - Wiel C.M. de Lange AU - Mathieu S. Bolhuis AU - Alena Skrahina AU - Dick van Soolingen AU - Jos G.W. Kosterink AU - Giovanni Battista Migliori AU - Tjip S. van der Werf AU - Jan-Willem C. Alffenaar Y1 - 2017/03/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/49/3/1601612.abstract N2 - Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) are an emerging global threat. An estimated 3.3% of newly diagnosed TB patients and 20% of previously treated patients worldwide have MDR-TB [1]. Moreover, 9.7% of MDR-TB cases are suffering from XDR-TB. Treatment of TB is becoming more difficult since the resistance pattern of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is expanding and treatment success rate is decreasing, with newly emerging drug-resistant strains [2]. Therefore, evaluation of antimicrobial drugs active against M. tuberculosis is necessary. Clarithromycin (CLR) is a macrolide antibiotic previously listed as a World Health Organization (WHO) group 5 drug, but not included in the new WHO classification because it has only modest bacteriostatic effects against M. tuberculosis [3]. However, the in vitro synergy of CLR in combination with linezolid, ethambutol and spectinomycin, and its immunomodulatory effects, hold promise [4–6]. Despite the introduction of newer drugs such as bedaquiline and delamanid, clarithromycin may have added value for the treatment of TB patients in cases of extensive resistance but proven susceptibility to clarithromycin. Unfortunately, real-life data on the use of clarithromycin to guide physicians in the treatment of MDR-TB is scarce.Clarithromycin had a good tolerability and safety profile as assessed in MDR-TB patients receiving prolonged treatment http://ow.ly/r8Jh306Ac0u ER -