J Korean Med Assoc.
2020 Aug;63(8):486-492. 10.5124/jkma.2020.63.8.486.
Update on pharmacotherapy for adult bronchiectasis
- Affiliations
-
- 1Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea
- 2Division of Pulmonary Medicine and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- 3Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea
- 4Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- KMID: 2505612
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2020.63.8.486
Abstract
- Bronchiectasis refers to abnormal dilatation of the bronchi, which leads to the failure of mucus clearance and increased risk of infection. Pharmacotherapy for stable bronchiectasis includes oral or inhaled mucoactive agents, anti-inflammatory therapy, inhaled bronchodilators, long-term antibiotics, and long-term macrolide treatment.Among them, mucoactive agents are the most common adjunctive agents to airway clearance techniques. When patients with impaired lung function suffer from dyspnea, inhaled bronchodilators may be prescribed to relieve the symptom. Long-term macrolide treatment has been proven to prevent exacerbation in patients with frequent bronchiectasis exacerbation. If exacerbation occurs despite the above mentioned treatments, one or two weeks of antibiotics should be prescribed to cover respiratory bacteria that include Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Because evidence supporting the use of pharmacotherapy for bronchiectasis is weak, further research is warranted.
