Published ahead of print on July 22, 2005, doi:10.1164/rccm.200502-218OC
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 172. pp. 1008-1012, (2005)
© 2005 American Thoracic Society
doi: 10.1164/rccm.200502-218OC
Heterogeneity of Treatment Response to Azithromycin in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis
Lisa Saiman,
Nicole Mayer-Hamblett,
Preston Campbell,
Bruce C. Marshall for the Macrolide Study Group*
Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, New York; Departments of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle; Statistical Analysis Unit, Cystic Fibrosis Therapeutics Development Network Coordinating Center, Seattle, Washington; and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Bethesda, Maryland
Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to Lisa Saiman, M.D., M.P.H., Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 622 West 168th Street, PH4W-470, New York, NY 10032. E-mail: LS5{at}columbia.edu
Rationale: We recently reported a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of azithromycin in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) that demonstrated a 6.2% improvement in the 168-d relative change in FEV1 among azithromycin participants compared with placebo participants.
Objectives: In the current analyses, heterogeneity of treatment response and the association between FEV1 and the risk of pulmonary exacerbations were investigated.
Methods: The time to first pulmonary exacerbation, hospitalization rates, and antibiotic use were compared between participants categorized by their relative change in FEV1 % predicted ( 5 vs. < 5% improvement) at Day 168. Pulmonary function and exacerbation responses were compared in subgroups of participants characterized by long-term concomitant medications and baseline lung function.
Measurements: All available data from the 185 randomized participants in the azithromycin trial were included in these analyses.
Main Results: Compared with placebo participants, a reduced risk of pulmonary exacerbations was observed both among azithromycin participants with 5% and those with < 5% relative improvement in FEV1. Similarly, decreased hospitalization rates and decreased use of oral quinolone and nonquinolone antibiotics were observed in azithromycin participants regardless of improvement in FEV1. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that overall, participants on long-term aerosolized tobramycin and/or rhDNase had worse baseline lung function, but still benefited from azithromycin, as evidenced by a lower risk of exacerbations.
Conclusions: Azithromycin participants experienced benefits in exacerbation parameters regardless of FEV1 response or subgroup. These data have implications for clinical practice and the design of clinical trials.
Key Words: antibiotic azithromycin cystic fibrosis macrolide Pseudomonas aeruginosa
This article has been cited by other articles:

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. A. J. Crosbie and M. A. Woodhead
Long-term macrolide therapy in chronic inflammatory airway diseases
Eur. Respir. J.,
January 1, 2009;
33(1):
171 - 181.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
T. M. Kremer, R. G. Zwerdling, P. H. Michelson, and B. P. O'Sullivan
Intensive Care Management of the Patient With Cystic Fibrosis
J Intensive Care Med,
May 1, 2008;
23(3):
159 - 177.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
T. D. Starner, J. D. Shrout, M. R. Parsek, P. C. Appelbaum, and G. Kim
Subinhibitory Concentrations of Azithromycin Decrease Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae Biofilm Formation and Diminish Established Biofilms
Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.,
January 1, 2008;
52(1):
137 - 145.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. B. Ware
Clinical Year in Review III: Asthma, Lung Transplantation, Cystic Fibrosis, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Proceedings of the ATS,
September 15, 2007;
4(6):
489 - 493.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. C Bell and P. J Robinson
Exacerbations in cystic fibrosis: 2 {middle dot} Prevention
Thorax,
August 1, 2007;
62(8):
723 - 732.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
C. Cigana, B. M. Assael, and P. Melotti
Azithromycin Selectively Reduces Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Levels in Cystic Fibrosis Airway Epithelial Cells
Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.,
March 1, 2007;
51(3):
975 - 981.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
B. Enderby and I. Doull
Hypertonic saline inhalation in cystic fibrosis--salt in the wound, or sweet success?
Arch. Dis. Child.,
March 1, 2007;
92(3):
195 - 196.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G. Tino
Clinical Year in Review IV: Interstitial Lung Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Pulmonary Infections, and Mycobacterial Disease
Proceedings of the ATS,
November 1, 2006;
3(8):
650 - 653.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
F. J. Accurso
Update in cystic fibrosis 2005.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
May 1, 2006;
173(9):
944 - 947.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|
Copyright © 2005 American Thoracic Society
|
|
|