EVAL OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS OF AZITHROMYCIN IN PTS W/CF

该子项目是利用NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的许多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为中心，不一定是研究者所在机构。患有囊性纤维化（CF）的儿童有患与慢性炎症和下呼吸道感染相关的终末期肺部疾病的风险。尽管过去20年来长期生存率的趋势令人鼓舞，但肺部疾病仍然是CF患者发病和死亡的最常见原因。虽然抗炎治疗通常被认为对患者有益，但目前没有单一药物在该患者人群中广泛使用，主要是由于对先前研究的药物（如口服类固醇和布洛芬）的长期安全性的担忧。最近完成的一项关于阿奇霉素在CF患者中使用的研究结果很有希望，足以促使囊性纤维化基金会向CF护理人员发布新闻稿，建议在选定的患者中考虑使用阿奇霉素。 本临床研究项目旨在描述阿奇霉素在我们佛罗里达大学诊所接受治疗的儿童中的抗炎作用。待检验的假设是，阿奇霉素治疗患者的痰炎性标志物下降伴随着临床获益。结果将定义这种治疗的效用，因为它与声称的作用机制有关。研究结果不仅将提供与直接患者护理相关的临床信息，而且还将补充我们正在进行的关于CF相关肺部疾病儿童肺部疾病发病机制的研究工作。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Children with the cystic fibrosis (CF) are at risk for end stage lung disease associated with chronic inflammation and infection of the lower respiratory tract. Despite encouraging trends in long term survival over the past 20 years, pulmonary disease remains the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with CF. Although anti-inflammatory therapy is generally thought to be of benefit to patients, there is no single agent currently in wide-spread use in this patient population, primarily due to concerns regarding the long-term safety of previously studied agents such as oral steroids and ibuprofen. The results of a recently completed study on the use of azithromycin in patients with CF were promising enough to prompt the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to issue a news release to CF caregivers recommending consideration of its use in selected patients. This clinical research project is designed to characterize the anti-inflammatory effect of azithromycin in children placed on this treatment in our clinic at the University of Florida. The hypothesis to be tested is that a decline in sputum inflammatory markers accompanies clinical benefit in patients treated with azithromycin. Results will define the utility of this treatment as it relates to the purported mechanism of action. Findings will not only provide clinical information relevant to direct patient care, but will also complement our ongoing research efforts regarding the pathogenesis of lung disease in children with CF-related lung disease.