Abstract

AZITHROMYCIN IN SEVERE ASTHMA: AN OVERVIEW

*Nahed Hegazy, Akram Atallah, Elham Abuwakeed, Amro Al-Jamal, Nirmin Akilan, EnasShaat and Ahmed Eldalo

ABSTRACT

Azithromycin is a member of macrolide antibiotics, which have been shown an effect on several processes involved in inflammation, that considered as an outstanding character of severe asthma, which makes Azithromycin a potential therapeutic option for asthma control. Maintaining normal lung function and preventing exacerbations need a reduction in inflammatory processes and it is an important goal of asthma treatment. Controlled studies report significant improvements in lung function with macrolide treatment of stable asthma. This review intended to examine clinical studies regarding the role of azithromycin on asthma including its mechanism of action, the potential risks involved and possible drug interactions, by conduct an overview on the literature on bronchial asthma and the usefulness of azithromycin therapy in asthma patients and examined the evidence from clinical trials and discuss azithromycin relevance to the pathophysiology of asthma. A 500mg dose of azithromycin given three times a day was the recommended dose in some studies with little to no serious unwanted effects besides focusing on pharmacokinetic profile and pharmacological properties of azithromycin, we concluded that azithromycin has potential benefits and significant effect to improve airway function in asthmatic patients with recommended dose 500mg three times a week that achieves the two important requirements in treatment goals, the effectiveness, and safety. Further studies are necessary to compare the dose-effect relationships.

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