[Sinobronchial syndrome]

The sinobronchial syndrome consists of chronic sinusitis and chronic nonspecific inflammation of the lower airways, typically chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis and diffuse panbronchiolitis. This airway disease of unknown etiology is not related to smoking. It is common in Japan and is poorly described in western countries. We report a case in a non-Asian patient. The known efficacy of long-term low-dose erythromycin therapy justifies careful diagnosis of sinobronchial syndrome in patients of non-Asian ethnic origin.