Lung transplantation: the role of azithromycin in the management of patients with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome

Curr Med Chem. 2008;15(7):716-23. doi: 10.2174/092986708783885228.

Abstract

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is the leading cause of death in lung transplant recipients (LTR). BOS is thought to result from chronic immunologic/inflammatory insults leading to peri-bronchiolar leukocyte infiltration, with a subsequent exuberant tissue re-modelling and fibro-obliteration of the luminal space of the allograft airways. Diagnosis is based on functional criteria and severity is graded on the degree of Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) impairment. Current strategies to improve pulmonary function once BOS is established have demonstrated little or no impact on disease progression and re-transplantation remains the only therapeutic option. Among the alternative treatments which have been attempted in the last few years, long-term azithromycin treatment seems to be the most promising therapeutic device for BOS treatment. Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic, endowed with a broad spectrum of anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory activities. Long-term oral azithromycin therapy can significantly improve FEV1 in about 42% of patients with established BOS. Moreover, reduced neutrophilia, chemokine release and bacterial exacerbations have been demonstrated. These observations suggest that the drug can down-regulate pulmonary inflammation, even if the precise underlying mechanisms still need to be determined.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Azithromycin / administration & dosage
  • Azithromycin / metabolism
  • Azithromycin / therapeutic use*
  • Bronchiolitis Obliterans / diagnosis
  • Bronchiolitis Obliterans / drug therapy*
  • Bronchiolitis Obliterans / metabolism
  • Forced Expiratory Volume / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Lung Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Syndrome

Substances

  • Azithromycin