HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Erythromycin reduces neutrophils and neutrophil-derived elastolytic-like activity in the lower respiratory tract of bronchiolitis patients.

Abstract
Diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) is a disease of adults characterized by chronic inflammation of the respiratory bronchioles and the infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells. The clinical efficacy of erythromycin therapy has been demonstrated in DPB patients, but the mechanism of action of this drug is unknown. We investigated the localization of neutrophils in lung biopsy specimens, as well as the cell population and elastolytic-like and chemotactic activity of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, before and after treatment with erythromycin or ampicillin in 11 DPB patients (six biopsy-proven and five clinically diagnosed) and one follicular bronchiolitis patient. These bronchiolitis patients had a high percentage of neutrophil and a high neutrophil-derived elastolytic-like activity in BAL fluid compared with chronic bronchitis patients and normal control subjects. The number of neutrophils and the neutrophil-derived elastolytic-like activity in BAL fluid decreased significantly after treatment with erythromycin along with a significant improvement in pulmonary function studies, although there was no significant change in the chemotactic activity of BAL fluid. No significant reduction in BAL fluid neutrophilia was found in the ampicillin-treated patients. These results suggest an important role for the neutrophil in the pathogenesis or development of bronchiolitis, and also suggest that erythromycin may be useful for the treatment of bronchiolitis through its direct action upon host phagocytic cells.
AuthorsY Ichikawa, H Ninomiya, H Koga, M Tanaka, M Kinoshita, N Tokunaga, T Yano, K Oizumi
JournalThe American review of respiratory disease (Am Rev Respir Dis) Vol. 146 Issue 1 Pg. 196-203 (Jul 1992) ISSN: 0003-0805 [Print] United States
PMID1626803 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
Chemical References
  • Erythromycin
  • Ampicillin
  • Pancreatic Elastase
  • Leukocyte Elastase
Topics
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Ampicillin (pharmacology)
  • Bronchi (pathology)
  • Bronchiolitis (enzymology, pathology, physiopathology)
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid (enzymology, pathology)
  • Chemotaxis, Leukocyte (drug effects)
  • Erythromycin (pharmacology)
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukocyte Elastase
  • Lung (pathology)
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutrophils (drug effects, pathology, physiology)
  • Pancreatic Elastase (metabolism)
  • Respiratory Mechanics

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: