Non-antimicrobial activities of macrolides

While using macrolides for the treatment of infectious diseases, some non-m icrobiological effects have been observed. The stimulation of gastrointesti nal motility, which is a common side-effect of macrolides, may be advantage ous in patients with poor upper gut motility. Macrolides, as well as direct ly inhibiting bacterial growth, may exert immunomodulatory effects. Utilisa tion of these properties may be useful in the treatment of chronic inflamma tory conditions, especially if bacterial infection is also implicated. Prel iminary evidence also suggests that the currently available macrolide antib iotics possess antitumour activity. In the future, an increased understandi ng of the structure-activity relationships of macrolides may result in the development of new structurally related compounds that concentrate on these pharmacological properties in addition to, or instead of, antimicrobial ac tivity. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. and International Society of Chemoth erapy. All rights reserved.