Clinical implications of the immunomodulatory effects of macrolides

J Tamaoki, J Kadota, H Takizawa - The American Journal of Medicine …, 2004 - Elsevier
Macrolide antibiotics are known for their efficacy in treating acute airway infections, but just
as importantly, they are also effective anti-inflammatory agents. Their anti-inflammatory
properties have been studied most thoroughly in chronic inflammatory airway diseases,
particularly diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB). Erythromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, and
roxithromycin inhibit chemotaxis and infiltration of neutrophils into the airway and,
subsequently, decrease mucus secretion. Mucus formation, a significant cause of morbidity …