TY - JOUR T1 - Add-on azithromycin reduces sputum cytokines in non-eosinophilic asthma: an AMAZES substudy JF - Thorax JO - Thorax SP - 733 LP - 736 DO - 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2020-216331 VL - 76 IS - 7 AU - Shakti D Shukla AU - Steven L Taylor AU - Peter G Gibson AU - Daniel Barker AU - John W Upham AU - Ian A Yang AU - Paul N Reynolds AU - Sandra Hodge AU - Alan L James AU - Geraint B Rogers AU - Jodie L Simpson Y1 - 2021/07/01 UR - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/76/7/733.abstract N2 - Add-on azithromycin (AZM) significantly reduces exacerbations in poorly controlled asthma irrespective of disease phenotype. In a predefined substudy of the original AMAZES protocol (500 mg, three times a week for 48 weeks), we report that AZM treatment reduces key sputum inflammatory proteins (interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β and extracellular DNA), which is more evident in non-eosinophilic asthma (NEA). Moreover, AZM reduced Haemophilus influenzae load only in NEA. Our data support the anti-inflammatory effects of AZM in poorly controlled asthma. Prospective studies are required to identify patients that derive greatest benefit from AZM add-on therapy. ER -