PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Shukla, Shakti D
AU  - Taylor, Steven L
AU  - Gibson, Peter G
AU  - Barker, Daniel
AU  - Upham, John W
AU  - Yang, Ian A
AU  - Reynolds, Paul N
AU  - Hodge, Sandra
AU  - James, Alan L
AU  - Rogers, Geraint B
AU  - Simpson, Jodie L
TI  - Add-on azithromycin reduces sputum cytokines in non-eosinophilic asthma: an AMAZES substudy
AID  - 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2020-216331
DP  - 2021 Jul 01
TA  - Thorax
PG  - 733--736
VI  - 76
IP  - 7
4099  - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/76/7/733.short
4100  - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/76/7/733.full
SO  - Thorax2021 Jul 01; 76
AB  - 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.