Trial reportThorax2002
Effect of long term treatment with azithromycin on disease parameters in cystic fibrosis: a randomised trial.
Trial report in Thorax, 2002. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT00411736 (Supplementary Oral Azithromycin in Treatment of Intermittent Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Colonization in CF-patients With Inhaled Colistin and Oral Ciprofloxacin; Postponing Next Isolate of Pseudomonas and Prevention of Chronic Infection. A Prospective, Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled Scandinavian Multi-centre Study.), which is not on this map. Cited by 129 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Supplementary Oral Azithromycin in Treatment of Intermittent Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Colonization in CF-patients With Inhaled Colistin and Oral Ciprofloxacin; Postponing Next Isolate of Pseudomonas and Prevention of Chronic Infection. A Prospective, Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled Scandinavian Multi-centre Study.
Who cites it
129 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 513 citations in OpenAlex.
- Macrolide antibiotics (including azithromycin) for cystic fibrosis.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2024Pooled it
- The efficacy of azithromycin to prevent exacerbation of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies.Journal of cardiothoracic surgery · 2022Pooled it
- Adverse events in people taking macrolide antibiotics versus placebo for any indication.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2019Pooled it
- Oral anti-pseudomonal antibiotics for cystic fibrosis.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2016Pooled it
- Meta-analysis of the adverse effects of long-term azithromycin use in patients with chronic lung diseases.Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy · 2014Pooled it
- Macrolide antibiotics for cystic fibrosis.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2012Pooled it
- Azithromycin therapy for prevention of chronic lung disease of prematurity (AZTEC): a randomised placebo-controlled trial.Health technology assessment (Winchester, England) · 2026Trial
- Weekly azithromycin for 48 weeks impacts nasopharyngeal microbial prevalence and Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes in children with HIV-associated chronic lung disease.Scientific reports · 2025Trial
- "The effect of 48-weeks azithromycin therapy on levels of soluble biomarkers associated with HIV-associated chronic lung disease".International immunopharmacology · 2023Trial
- The effect of azithromycin in adults with stable neutrophilic COPD: a double blind randomised, placebo controlled trial.PloS one · 2014Trial
- Development of a population pharmacokinetic model to describe azithromycin whole-blood and plasma concentrations over time in healthy subjects.Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy · 2013Trial
- Trial
- Trial
- Trial
- Azithromycin in the extremely low birth weight infant for the prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia: a pilot study.Respiratory research · 2007Trial
- Predictors of pulmonary exacerbations in patients with cystic fibrosis infected with multi-resistant bacteria.Thorax · 2006Trial
- Long term effects of azithromycin in patients with cystic fibrosis: A double blind, placebo controlled trial.Thorax · 2006Trial
- Case Report: When access is limited: using CYP3A4 inhibition to maintain clinical benefit from elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026Article
- Non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection in cystic fibrosis before and after initiation of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor: now is not the time to lower the guard.BMJ open respiratory research · 2025Observational
- Article
69 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundRelentless chronic pulmonary inflammation is the major contributor to morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). While immunomodulating therapies such as prednisolone and ibuprofen may be beneficial, their use is limited by side effects. Macrolides have immunomodulatory properties and long term use dramatically improves prognosis in diffuse panbronchiolitis, a condition with features in common with the lung disease of CF.
methodsTo determine if azithromycin (AZM) improves clinical parameters and reduces inflammation in patients with CF, a 3 month prospective randomised double blind, placebo controlled study of AZM (250 mg/day) was undertaken in adults with CF. Monthly assessment included lung function, weight, and quality of life (QOL). Blood and sputum collection assessed systemic inflammation and changes in bacterial flora. Respiratory exacerbations were treated according to the policy of the CF Unit.
resultsSixty patients were recruited (29 men) of mean (SD) age 27.9 (6.5) years and initial forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) 56.6 (22.3)% predicted. FEV1% and forced vital capacity (FVC)% predicted were maintained in the AZM group while in the placebo group there was a mean (SE) decline of -3.62 (1.78)% (p=0.047) and -5.73 (1.66)% (p=0.001), respectively. Fewer courses of intravenous antibiotics were used in patients on AZM (0.37 v 1.13, p=0.016). Median C reactive protein (CRP) levels declined in the AZM group from 10 to 5.4 mg/ml but remained constant in the placebo group (p<0.001). QOL improved over time in patients on AZM and remained unchanged in those on placebo (p=0.035).
conclusionAZM in adults with CF significantly improved QOL, reduced CRP levels and the number of respiratory exacerbations, and reduced the rate of decline in lung function. Long term AZM may have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality in patients with CF. Further studies are required to define frequency of dosing and duration of benefit.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.