17207
document
Clarithromycin reduces the severity of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in patients with asthma . A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study was designed to evaluate the effects of a semisynthetic macrolide antibiotic , clarithromycin , on bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine in patients with a diagnosis of asthma . Adult asthma patients undergoing treatment with budesonide 400 microg b.i.d . and salbutamol 200 microg p.r.n . less than twice weekly were studied . Arm A ( 16 males/six females , aged 48 +/- 16 yrs ) received clarithromycin 250 mg b.i.d . for 8 weeks , arm B ( eight males/12 females , aged 42 +/- 12 yrs ) clarithromycin 250 mg t.id . and arm C ( six males/15 females , aged 41 +/- 16 yrs ) placebo dextrose tablets . Bronchial hyperresponsiveness was quantified by measurement of the provocative dose of methacholine causing a 20 % fall in forced expiratory volume in one second ( PD20 ) . Median ( interquartile range ) PD20 in the three groups before and after treatment with clarithromycin were : arm A : 0.3 ( 0.1-1 ) and 1.3 ( 0.6-2 ) mg ; arm B : 0.4 ( 0.1-0.9 ) and 2 ( 2-2 ) mg ; and arm C : 0.4 ( 0.1-0.9 ) and 0.3 ( 0.1-0.6 ) mg , respectively . Serum free cortisol levels were determined and remained unchanged from baseline in the clarithromycin-treated patients . It is concluded that clarithromycin reduces the degree of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in patients with asthma .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
Clarithromycin
17209
Intervention_Control
placebo-controlled
17210
Intervention_Pharmacological
semisynthetic macrolide antibiotic
17211
Intervention_Pharmacological
clarithromycin
17212
Intervention_Pharmacological
methacholine
17213
Intervention_Pharmacological
salbutamol
17214
Intervention_Pharmacological
clarithromycin
17215
Intervention_Control
placebo dextrose
17216
Intervention_Pharmacological
methacholine
17217
Intervention_Pharmacological
clarithromycin
17218
Intervention_Pharmacological
clarithromycin-treated
17219
Intervention_Pharmacological
clarithromycin
17220
Outcome_Physical
severity of bronchial hyperresponsiveness
17221
Outcome_Other
evaluate the effects
17222
Outcome_Physical
Bronchial hyperresponsiveness was quantified
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Outcome_Other
provocative dose of methacholine
17224
Outcome_Physical
20 % fall in forced expiratory volume in one second ( PD20 ) . Median ( interquartile range ) PD20
17225
Outcome_Physical
Serum free cortisol levels
17226
Outcome_Physical
degree of bronchial hyperresponsiveness
17227
Participant_Condition
asthma
17228
Participant_Condition
asthma
17229
Participant_Age
Adult
17230
Participant_Condition
asthma
17231
Participant_Sample-size
16
17232
Participant_Sex
males/six females
17233
Participant_Age
48 +/- 16
17234
Participant_Sample-size
eight
17235
Participant_Sex
males/12 females
17236
Participant_Age
42 +/- 12
17237
Participant_Condition
clarithromycin-treated
17238
Participant_Condition
asthma