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Centrilobular nodules correlate with air trapping in diffuse panbronchiolitis during erythromycin therapy
1Third Department of Internal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. gyamada@sapmed.ac.jp
Chest
|July 14, 2001
Summary
Low-dose erythromycin therapy improved lung function and reduced airway inflammation in diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) patients. Improved centrilobular nodules on CT scans correlated with decreased air trapping, indicating therapeutic effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Radiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Low-dose erythromycin therapy is known to improve airflow limitation and airway inflammation in diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB).
- Previous studies have not established a correlation between physiologic improvements and radiologic findings during erythromycin treatment for DPB.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between pulmonary function improvements and specific changes observed on chest computed tomography (CT) in patients with DPB undergoing low-dose erythromycin therapy.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis was conducted on 24 DPB patients.
- Pulmonary function parameters and five specific CT findings were assessed before and after 3 months of low-dose erythromycin therapy.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements were observed in predicted vital capacity (%VC) and 50% maximum midexpiratory flow rate, with a significant decrease in the residual volume/total lung capacity ratio (RV/TLC%).
- CT scans showed significant improvements in centrilobular nodules, peripheral bronchiolar wall thickness, and peripheral bronchiolectasis.
- Improved centrilobular nodule scores positively correlated with improved %VC and RV/TLC%.
Conclusions:
- Decreased air trapping in DPB is associated with the improvement of centrilobular nodules.
- These findings suggest that improvements in centrilobular nodules on CT reflect the resolution of bronchiolar obstructive lesions during erythromycin therapy.
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