Abstract
The efficacy of sparfloxacin (SPFX) for the control of bronchial asthma was evaluated in 26 patients with suspected Chlamydia pneumoniae infection. Patients were randomly allocated to receive SPFX 200 mg/day (n = 14) or control treatment (n = 12) for 21 days. Significant improvements in serum C-reactive protein levels, and significant decreases in peripheral eosinophil counts, serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and sputum ECP were observed in the SPFX-treated group at day 21. SPFX-treated patients also had a significantly reduced frequency of asthma symptoms, reduced inhalant beta2-stimulant use, and significant increases in morning peak expiratory flow. At the end of the study, C. pneumoniae was undetectable in two SPFX-treated patients who underwent polymerase chain reaction testing, but one control patient who was tested still had detectable levels of C. pneumoniae. These results suggest that SPFX could be used to control bronchial asthma in patients with suspected persistent C. pneumoniae infection.
Publication types
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Randomized Controlled Trial
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Administration, Inhalation
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Aged
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Anti-Asthmatic Agents / administration & dosage
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Anti-Asthmatic Agents / therapeutic use
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Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
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Asthma / complications
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Asthma / drug therapy*
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C-Reactive Protein / drug effects
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C-Reactive Protein / metabolism
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Chlamydophila Infections / drug therapy*
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Chlamydophila Infections / etiology
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Chlamydophila Infections / microbiology
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Chlamydophila pneumoniae / immunology
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Chlamydophila pneumoniae / isolation & purification
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Chlamydophila pneumoniae / pathogenicity*
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Eosinophil Cationic Protein / blood
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Eosinophil Cationic Protein / drug effects
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Female
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Fluoroquinolones / therapeutic use*
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Humans
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Immunoglobulin A / blood
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Immunoglobulin G / blood
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Leukocyte Count
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Peak Expiratory Flow Rate
Substances
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Anti-Asthmatic Agents
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Antibodies, Bacterial
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Fluoroquinolones
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Immunoglobulin A
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Immunoglobulin G
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C-Reactive Protein
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Eosinophil Cationic Protein
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RNASE3 protein, human
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sparfloxacin