J. Tamaoki et al., EFFECT OF CLARITHROMYCIN ON SPUTUM PRODUCTION AND ITS RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES IN CHRONIC RESPIRATORY-TRACT INFECTIONS, Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy, 39(8), 1995, pp. 1688-1690
Macrolide antibiotics possess a variety of actions other than antimicr
obial activities, To determine the effects of Long-term administration
of clarithromycin (CAM) on the amount and physical properties of sput
um in patients with clinical conditions associated with excessive airw
ay secretions, we conducted the present study in a parallel, double-bl
ind, placebo-controlled fashion, Patients were divided into two groups
: the first group (n = 16) received CAM (100 mg, twice a day) for 8 we
eks, and the second group (n = 15) received placebo, In evaluating air
way secretion, the daily amount of expectorated sputum, solid composit
ion, viscoelastic properties (including elastic modulus and dynamic vi
scosity), and sputum microbiology were assessed, CAM decreased sputum
production from 51 +/- 6 to 21 +/- 3 g/day after treatment, whereas pl
acebo had no effect, The bacterial density and sputum flora were unalt
ered, In the group receiving CAM, the percent solid composition and el
astic modulus increased from 2.44% +/- 0.29% to 3.01% +/- 0.20% and 66
+/- 7 to 87 +/- 8 dyne/cm(2) (P < 0.05), respectively, but the dynami
c, viscosity remained unchanged, These results suggest that long-term
treatment with CAM reduces the amount of sputum production, probably b
y inhibiting airway secretions, and increases sputum elasticity.