The Role of Macrolides in Noncystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis

Table 1

Macrolides in noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

Study	Study design	N	Macrolide	Age (years)	End-point
Koh et al. [23]	Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled	25	Roxithromycin 4 mg/kg twice daily for 12 weeks	13.1 ± 2.6	(i) Reduction of sputum purulence (𝑃<0.005); (ii) Reduction in airway responsiveness after methacholine challenge (𝑃<0.01)
Tsang et al. [24]	Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled	21	Erythromycin 500 mg twice daily for 8 weeks	50 ± 15	(i) FEV1 and FVC improvement (𝑃<0.05); (ii) Reduction of 24-h sputum volume (𝑃<0.05); (iii) Reduction of the number of exacerbations
Davies and Wilson [25]	Prospective open-label	39	Azithromycin 250 mg, thrice weekly for 4 months	51.9 ± 16.1	(i) Reduction of clinical exacerbations with the use of oral and intravenous antibiotics (𝑃<0.001); (ii) Pulmonary function improvement (𝑃<0.01)
Cymbala et al. [26]	Randomized, open-label, crossover	11	Azithromycin 500 mg twice weekly for 6 months	—	(i) Reduction in pulmonary exacerbations; (ii) Reduction of sputum volume
Yalcin et al. [27]	Randomized, controlled	34	Clarithromycin 15 mg/kg/day for 3 months	13.1 ± 2.7	(i) Reduction in bronchial inflammation (𝑃<0.02); (ii) Pulmonary function improvement (FEF25–75%) 𝑃<0.015; (iii) Reduction of sputum volume (𝑃<0.0001)
Anwar et al. [28]	Prospective open-label	56	Azithromycin 250 mg, thrice weekly for at least 3 months	63 (±12.9)	(i) Reduction in pulmonary exacerbations (𝑃<0.001); (ii) Reduction of microorganisms rates in the sputum (𝑃<0.005); (iii) Reduction in the self-reported sputum volume; (iv) FEV1 improvement (𝑃<0.002)
Serisier et al. [29]	Prospective open-label	21	Erythromycin 250 mg/day for 12 months	62.5 (±11)	(i) Reduction in pulmonary exacerbations (𝑃<0.0001); (ii) Reduction of antibiotics use (𝑃<0.0001)

FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second; FEF25–75%: maximal midexpiratory flow; FVC: forced vital capacity.