Effect of Long Term Clarithromycin for Prevention of Exacerbations in Non-cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis in Asian Populations

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients aged 50 years or older
• At least 2 or more exacerbation requiring antibiotic treatment in the past yearClinically stable for at least 4 weeks prior to enrollment (defined as no symptoms ofexacerbation, no requirement for supplemental antibiotic therapy)
• Diagnosis of bronchiectasis defined by high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scan

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of cystic fibrosis; hypogammaglobulinemia; allergic bronchopulmonaryaspergilosis,
• Cigarette smoking within 6 months
• A positive culture of non-tuberculosis mycobacteria in the past 2 years or atscreening
• Macrolide treatment for more than 3 months in the past 6 months
• Oral or intravenous courses of corticosteroids within 30 days of screening
• Any antimicrobial treatment for lower respiratory tract infection in the last 2 weeks
• Unstable arrhythmia
• History of coronary artery disease, or symptoms of heart disease
• Known allergy or intolerance to macrolides
• Patients with liver disease or with elevated transaminanse (aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels equal to or greater than the upperlimit of the normal)
• Concurrent medication: Colchicine, calcium channel blocker, statins, amiodarone,amitriptyline, trazodone, citalopram, disopyramide, itraconazole, saquinavir,ritaonavir, atazanavir, sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, theophylline,carbamazepine.