Abstract

Macrolide therapy in cystic fibrosis: new developments in clinical use

Author(s): K Frayman,P Robinson

Macrolide therapy, in particular azithromycin, has been shown to improve aspects of lung health in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), in particular those with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization. It is postulated that macrolide antibiotics exert their clinical effects through direct anti-inflammatory mechanisms that are separate from their antibacterial properties. A number of clinical trials have explored the clinical effects of macrolide therapy in CF. Those in recent years have focused on different population groups, including patients without P. aeruginosa airway colonization and those with relatively preserved pulmonary function; and different dosing regimens, including different macrolides and treatment durations. This article presents a review of the clinical trials of macrolide therapy in CF published over the past 5 years.