Clarithromycin Stops Lung Function Decline in Airway-Centered Interstitial Fibrosis

Abstract

Airway-centered interstitial fibrosis (ACIF) is a distinct type of lung interstitial fibrosis characterized by lesions centered on the airways. Several cases reported in the literature showed little to no effect of corticosteroids and a high mortality rate in the absence of lung transplantation. No other efficient approach is described for the treatment of this type of fibrosis. We report for the first time the case of a 44-year-old patient diagnosed with ACIF on surgical lung biopsy and stabilized with clarithromycin after failure of systemic corticosteroids. We need to confirm this benefit in other patients to ascertain the anti-inflammatory effect of macrolides, which are far less harmful compared to corticosteroids or immunosuppressant drugs.

Airway-centered Interstitial Fibrosis: An Unusual Presentation

“…Recently, there are reports regarding clarithromycin therapy that has been shown to retained the decline in lung functions of ACIF patients. 8 The effectiveness of macrolides may be similar to that seen in other chronic inflammatory diseases through their immunomodulatory effects. 9 Our patient continued to deteriorate on triple drug therapy with azathioprine, low dose prednisolone and N-acetyl cysteine.…”

Cigarette Smoking: The Only Risk Factor of a Case with Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia

“…Recently, IPF treatment with MACs has been reported (1)(2)(3)(4). Herein, a case of infection-triggered AE-IPF treated with CSs combined with MACs is described.…”