Macrolide use leads to clinical and radiological improvement in patients with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia.

Abstract

Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia is an idiopathic form of organizing pneumonia (also known as bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia). Because cryptogenic organizing pneumonia is considered an inflammatory disease, it characteristically responds to the broad-spectrum antiinflammatory corticosteroids, although relapse is common on discontinued use. Additionally, long-term use of corticosteroids has many side effects. In severe cases in which corticosteroids have failed, either cytotoxic therapy or macrolide therapy is used. Because of the toxicity and adverse effects of cytotoxic therapy (e.g., cyclophosphamide), this therapy option cannot be used long term in refractory cases. Macrolide therapy has been shown to be an effective antiinflammatory agent that is relatively safe when used on a long-term basis in patients with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia.

• Authors: Vikas Pathak, Judy M Kuhn, Carolyn Durham, William K Funkhouser, David C Henke
• Journal: Annals of the American Thoracic Society (Ann Am Thorac Soc) Vol. 11 Issue 1 Pg. 87-91 (Jan 2014) ISSN: 2325-6621 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24460438 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Macrolides
• Clarithromycin

Topics

• Aged
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use)
• Clarithromycin (therapeutic use)
• Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, pathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Lung (diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Macrolides (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• Treatment Outcome