The Macrolide Antibacterial Roxithromycin Reduces Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness and Superoxide Anion Production by Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes in Patients with Asthma

Abstract

We investigated the effects of a macrolide antibacterial, roxithromycin, on the generation of free radicals by peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and on the severity of bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Ten asthmatic patients were treated for 3 months with roxithromycin, 150 mg orally once daily; such treatment significantly reduced the production of superoxide anion by PMNs (p = 0.0029) and reduced the bronchial hyperreactivity (p = 0.0016), as compared with results in healthy controls. Most of the patients required at least 2 months of treatment with roxithromycin for clinical improvement. We conclude that long-term, low-dose administration of roxithromycin may be useful in treatment of patients with bronchial asthma.