Azithromycin Therapy for Patients with Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome After Lung Transplantation

Overview

Journal Transplantation

Specialty General Surgery

Date 2004 May 29

PMID 15167610

Citations 39

Authors

Geert M Verleden

Lieven J Dupont

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is the leading cause of late mortality after lung transplantation.

Methods: We added azithromycin (AZI) (250 mg/day for 5 days, followed by 250 mg every other day) to the current immunosuppressive therapy in eight lung transplant recipients (mean age 36 years) with established BOS in an attempt to prevent further decline of the forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1).

Results: Before the administration of AZI, there was a gradual decline of the FEV1 (-34.4%+/-14.7%) compared with the patients' best postoperative values. Twelve weeks after AZI had been added, there was a significant increase in the FEV1 (+18.3%+/-14.6%, P <0.0001, analysis of variance) with an absolute increase of 328+/-305 mL. This increase persisted in three patients during 9 months of follow-up.

Conclusions: AZI is a promising drug for some patients with BOS after lung transplantation. The exact mechanism of action is unknown at the present time.

Citing Articles

"The effect of 48-weeks azithromycin therapy on levels of soluble biomarkers associated with HIV-associated chronic lung disease".

Hameiri-Bowen D, Yindom L, Sovershaeva E, Bandason T, Mayini J, Rehman A Int Immunopharmacol. 2023; 116:109756.

PMID: 36682262 PMC: 10914635. DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.109756.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Macrolides Considering Evidence from Human and Veterinary Medicine.

Blondeau J Microorganisms. 2022; 10(12).

PMID: 36557690 PMC: 9784682. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10122438.

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after lung or haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: current management and future directions.

Glanville A, Benden C, Bergeron A, Cheng G, Gottlieb J, Lease E ERJ Open Res. 2022; 8(3).

PMID: 35898810 PMC: 9309343. DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00185-2022.

Effect of azithromycin on bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome in posttransplant recipients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hao X, Peng C, Lian W, Liu H, Fu G Medicine (Baltimore). 2022; 101(28):e29160.

PMID: 35839027 PMC: 11132355. DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000029160.

Management of chronic rejection after lung transplantation.

Bedair B, Hachem R J Thorac Dis. 2022; 13(11):6645-6653.

PMID: 34992842 PMC: 8662511. DOI: 10.21037/jtd-2021-19.