TY - JOUR TI - Atypical bacteria and macrolides in asthma AU - Xepapadaki, P. AU - Koutsoumpari, I. AU - Papaevagelou, V. AU - Karagianni, C. AU - Papadopoulos, N.G. JO - Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology PY - 2008 VL - 4 TODO - 3 SP - 111-116 PB - SN - null TODO - 10.2310/7480.2008.00012 TODO - clarithromycin; ketolide; macrolide; placebo; roxithromycin; telithromycin, allergic reaction; antiinflammatory activity; antimicrobial activity; article; asthma; bacterial infection; Chlamydophila pneumoniae; clinical trial; cytokine production; disease association; disease course; disease exacerbation; disease severity; drug efficacy; drug mechanism; host pathogen interaction; human; immunomodulation; lung function; Mycoplasma pneumoniae; nonhuman; pathogenesis; respiratory tract disease; treatment duration; wheezing TODO - Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae are common pathogens causing acute illness in both the upper and lower airways. Several observations are supportive of a possible causative role of these pathogens in asthma; however, more evidence is required before this becomes meaningful in clinical practice. Atypical bacteria can enhance airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation, both of which have been associated with exacerbations in patients with preexisting asthma. It is less clear whether the above mechanisms might also be responsible for the development of asthma. Difficulties in accurately diagnosing these infections contribute to such uncertainty. In the present report, evidence of the involvement of Chiamydophila and Mycoplasma infection in the development and the progression of asthma are reviewed. ER -