Azithromycin Reduces Airway Neutrophilia and Interleukin-8 in Patients with Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome

Abstract

Azithromycin significantly reduces airway neutrophilia and IL-8 mRNA in patients with BOS. Responders have a significantly higher BAL neutrophilia and IL-8 compared with nonresponders and had commenced treatment earlier after transplantation. BAL neutrophilia can be used as a predictor for the FEV(1) response to azithromycin.