Azithromycin for Prevention of Graft-Versus-Host Disease: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
-
Maryam Barkhordar
,
Mehdi Mohammadi
,
Ahmad Reza Shamshiri
,
Molouk Hadjibabaie
,
Ardeshir Ghavamzadeh
Abstract
Background: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been used widely to treat various types of malignant and non-malignant disorders. Graft-versus-host disease is one of the main complications of this procedure which is associated with considerable mortality and affects quality of life. Despite careful selection of HLA-matched donors and implementing immunosuppressive therapy, the incidence rate of graft-versus-host disease remains high. Macrolide antibiotics are well-known immunomodulatory agents and have been effective as prophylaxis for graft-versus-host disease in preclinical studies.
Materials and Methods: Ninety-six adult patients with acute leukemia were recruited into a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. All patients were first-time transplant candidates for a full-matched related or unrelated donor. Patients were allocated to receive azithromycin 500 mg daily (n=48) or placebo (n=48) from day -6 to +12. All patients received high-dose chemotherapy, standard immunosuppressive regimen and supportive care according to institutional protocols.
Results: The incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease grade III-IV and chronic graft-versus-host disease garde I-III was not significantly different between the two study arms. Oral mucositis grade 1-3 occurred in significantly lower number of patients in the azithromycin group compared with placebo.
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, protective effect of azithromycin on graft-versus-host disease could not be demonstrated.
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| Issue | Vol 12, No 2 (2018) | |
| Section | Original Article(s) | |
| Keywords | ||
| Azithromycin Graft-versus-host disease Mucositis | ||
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