Inclusion Criteria:  The inclusion criteria were as follows: bronchiectasis documented on chest HRCT, idiopathic etiology of bronchiectasis, chronic sputum production (daily sputum ≥ 10 ml), absence of other major pulmonary diagnoses, and steady state defined by the absence of change of symptoms noted by the patient over the past 3 weeks  Exclusion Criteria:  The exclusion criteria were as follows: bronchiectasis with defined etiology (i.e, post-tuberculosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis), common variable immunodeficiency, and use of antibiotics within the last 3 weeks. Patients with hepatic failure, malignancy, or pregnancy were also excluded.