Systemic and functional effects of continuous azithromycin treatment in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and frequent exacerbations.

Background: Continuous treatment with azithromycin may lead to fewer acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), but little is known of its impact on systemic and functional outcomes in real-life settings.

Methods: This was a multicenter prospective observational study of patients with severe COPD who started treatment with azithromycin. Tests were compared at baseline and after 3 and 12 months of treatment.

What Circuits, Masks and Filters Should Be Used in Home Non-Invasive Mechanical Ventilation.

Most of the published reviews about non-invasive home ventilation mainly reflect the technical aspects of ventilators. There is much less information about the consumables most used at home. However, the choice of a good interface or tubing system can lead to physiological changes in the patient-ventilator interaction that the clinician should be aware of.

Exercise capacity and physical activity in COPD patients treated with a LAMA/LABA combination: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Persistent airflow limitation and dyspnoea may reduce chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients exercise capacity and physical activity, undermining their physical status and quality of life. Long-acting muscarinic antagonists and long-acting beta-2 agonists (LAMA/LABA) combinations are amongst moderate-to-severe COPD recommended treatments. This article analyses LAMA/LABA combinations effect on COPD patients exercise capacity and physical activity outcomes.

Genetic Adaptation and Acquisition of Macrolide Resistance in Haemophilus spp. during Persistent Respiratory Tract Colonization in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Patients Receiving Long-Term Azithromycin Treatment.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) benefit from the immunomodulatory effect of azithromycin, but long-term administration may alter colonizing bacteria. Our goal was to identify changes in Haemophilus influenzae and Haemophilus parainfluenzae during azithromycin treatment. Fifteen patients were followed while receiving prolonged azithromycin treatment (Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Spain).