
Recent evidence suggests effectiveness of macrolides in patients with uncontrolled severe neutrophilic asthma and in asthma exacerbations.
At present, the use of macrolides in chronic asthma or acute exacerbations is not justified.
Further work, including proteomic, genomic, and microbiome studies, will advance our knowledge of asthma phenotypes, and help to identify a macrolide-responsive subgroup.
References:
The role of macrolides in asthma. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Early Online Publication, 17 June 2014, doi:10.1016/S2213-2600(14)70107-9
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(14)70107-9/fulltext
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