HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Guest Access | Sign In via User Name/Password

This Article Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted 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 Add to My Personal Article Archive Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (19) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Garey, K. W. Articles by Rubinstein, I. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Garey, K. W. Articles by Rubinstein, I.

Tissue Reparative Effects of Macrolide Antibiotics in Chronic Inflammatory Sinopulmonary Diseases^*

^* From the Department of Clinical Sciences and Administration (Dr. Garey), University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, TX; the Departments of Medicine (Drs. Alwani and Rubinstein) and Pharmacy Practice (Dr. Danziger), Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, and Chicago VA Health Care System, West Side Division, Chicago, IL.

Correspondence to: Israel Rubinstein, MD, FCCP, Professor of Medicine, Section of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine (M/C 787), University of Illinois at Chicago, 840 S Wood St, Chicago, IL 60612-7323; e-mail: Irubinst{at}uic.edu

It is well established that macrolide antibiotics are efficacious in treating sinopulmonary infections in humans. However, a growing body of experimental and clinical evidence indicates that they also express distinct salutary effects that promote and sustain the reparative process in the chronically inflamed upper and lower respiratory tract. Unlike the anti-infective properties, these distinct effects are manifested at lower doses, usually after a relatively prolonged period (weeks) of treatment, and in the absence of an identifiable, viable pathogen. Long-term, low-dose administration of macrolide antibiotics has been used most commonly for sinusitis, diffuse panbronchiolitis, asthma, bronchiectasis, and cystic fibrosis. It is associated with down-regulation of nonspecific host inflammatory response to injury and promotion of tissue repair. Although large-scale trials are lacking, the prolonged use of these drugs has not been associated with emergence of clinically significant bacterial resistance or immunosuppression. Long-term, low-dose administration of 14- and 15-membered ring macrolide antibiotics may represent an important adjunct in the treatment of chronic inflammatory sinopulmonary diseases in humans.

Key Words: anti-inflammatory • immunomodulatory • macrolide antibiotics

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Knyazhitskiy, R. G. Masson, R. Corkey, and J. Joiner Beneficial Response to Macrolide Antibiotic in a Patient With Desquamative Interstitial Pneumonia Refractory to Corticosteroid Therapy Chest, July 1, 2008; 134(1): 185 - 187. [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]

				K.W. Southern and P.M. Barker Azithromycin for cystic fibrosis Eur. Respir. J., November 1, 2004; 24(5): 834 - 838. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]