Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Bronchiectasis and Long Term Azithromycin Treatment: A Randomised Placebo-controlled Trial Studying Disease Modifying Effects of Immunomodulating Treatment
Brief Summary: 1. SUMMARY

Rationale: Patients with bronchiectasis often experience lower respiratory tract infections with progression of symptoms and decline in quality of life. Macrolides, as has been shown in panbronchiolitis and cystic fibrosis, may break or weaken the link between infection and inflammation resulting in an improvement of symptoms. Also the number of exacerbations may lowered.

Objective: A reduction in number of infective exacerbations and improvement in lung function by AZT treatment are the primary objectives. Secondary objectives that will be evaluated are: symptoms score, quality of life, inflammatory parameters, bacterial colonisation, and adverse events.

Study design: Randomised double blind multicenter study in the Netherlands. Patients will be stratified for colonisation with P.aeruginosa.

Study population: Patients with bronchiectasis demonstrated by high-resolution computed tomography (HR-CT) scan or bronchography.

Intervention: Patients receive Azithromycin 250mg(p.o.) once daily or placebo.

Main study parameters/endpoints: Reduction in number exacerbations, defined as increase symptoms such as dyspnoea, coughing, and sputum production for which a course of prednisolone and/or antibiotic is needed. Change in lung function parameters (forced expiratory volume in 1 second \[FEV1\], forced vital capacity \[FVC\]) measured by spirometry is the other primary endpoint.

Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: The risk of participating in this study is low. Laboratory, radiographic examinations, and pulmonary function tests are commonly used as diagnostic procedures during outpatients visits and during exacerbations. Adverse effects in maintenance treatment with AZT are usually mild and mainly gastrointestinal. Sometimes rash and abnormal liver function tests are observed. A better quality of life will probably be the beneficial effect of long term treatment with AZT. This will be achieved by a reduction in respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms and number of exacerbations.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients aged 18 ≥ years
* Bronchiectasis diagnosed by plain bronchography or high resolution computer tomography.
* Minimal 3 lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) treated with oral/intravenous (IV) antibiotics in the year preceding the study inclusion.
* The presence of chronic respiratory symptoms such as cough, dyspnoea, expectoration of sputum.
* At least one positive sputum culture in the preceding year.
* Informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Previous ( ≥ 4 weeks) prolonged macrolide therapy.
* Pregnant or lactating women.
* Allergy to macrolides.
* Intolerance to macrolides.
* Liver disease (alanine transaminase and/or aspartate transaminase levels 2 or more times the upper limit of normal).
* Use of antibiotics within 14 days of screening.
* Use of oral or IV corticosteroids (≥ 30 mg prednisolone/daily) within 30 days of screening.
* Other research medication started 2 months prior to inclusion.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients with a proven and documented diagnosis of non-cystic fibrosis idiopathic or post pneumonic bronchiectasis
* Stable pulmonary status and stable regimen of standard treatment at least for the past 30 days

Exclusion Criteria:

* Forced Expiratory Volume 1 \< 35% or \> 80%
* Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
* Immunodeficiency disease requiring immunoglobulin replacement
* Inflammatory bowel disease
C: Inclusion Criteria

1. Have given written informed consent to participate in this study in accordance with local regulations
2. Have documented evidence of confirmed diagnosis of (non-cystic fibrosis) bronchiectasis by computed tomography (CT), High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) or bronchogram
3. Be aged 18 - 85 years inclusive, male and female
4. Have FEV1 (Forced expiratory volume in one second) ≥ 40% and ≤85% predicted\* and ≥1.0L (\*according to NHANES III predicted tables) measured at Visit 0A (V0A)
5. Clinician documented history of at least 2 pulmonary exacerbations, each requiring antibiotic therapy, in the last 12 months prior to Visit 0A (V0A) and a total of at least 4 in the last 2 years prior to Visit 0A
6. Have a total SGRQ (St George's respiratory questionnaire) score of ≥30 at Visit 0B (V0B)
7. Have a production of ≥10g of sputum at Visit 0B Have reported chronic sputum production of ≥1 tablespoon (15mL) per day on the majority of days in the 3 months prior to Visit 0A
8. Be able to perform all the techniques necessary to measure lung function
9. Have FEV1 ≥40% predicted\* and ≥1.0L (\*according to NHANES III 1999 predicted tables) measured at V0B (Baseline result prior to MTT (Mannitol Tolerance Test) administration)

Exclusion Criteria

1. Be investigators, site personnel directly affiliated with this study, or their immediate families. Immediate family is defined as a spouse, parent, child or sibling, whether biologically or legally adopted.
2. Have bronchiectasis as a consequence of cystic fibrosis or focal endobronchial lesion or otherwise curable causes (e.g. foreign body aspiration)
3. Be considered "terminally ill" or listed for transplantation
4. Be using hypertonic saline in the 14 days prior to commencing Visit 0B or thereafter at any time during the study
5. Have previously used inhaled mannitol (Bronchitol) for more than a day
6. Have had a significant episode of hemoptysis (\>60 mL) in the previous 6 months
7. Have had rescue antibiotics in the 4 weeks prior to V0B (chronic background antibiotic therapy accepted)
8. Have smoked within the last 3 months and must not smoke during their participation in the study
9. Have had a myocardial infarction in the three months prior to Visit 0A
10. Have had a cerebral vascular accident in the three months prior to Visit 0A
11. Have had major ocular surgery in the three months prior to Visit 0A
12. Have had major abdominal, chest or brain surgery in the three months prior to Visit 0A
13. Have a known cerebral, aortic or abdominal aneurysm
14. Have actively treated Mycobacterium tuberculosis
15. Have actively treated or unstable nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM)infection or be under consideration for NTM treatment in the next 12 months
16. Have unstable Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) requiring steroid therapy (≤5mg dose oral steroids in stable ABPA accepted)
17. Have end stage interstitial lung disease
18. Have active malignancy including melanoma (other skin carcinomas exempted). Remissions from any malignancy ≥2 years also exempted
19. Be breast feeding or pregnant, or plan to become pregnant while in the study
20. Be using an unreliable form of contraception (female subjects at risk of pregnancy only)
21. Be participating in another investigational drug study, parallel to, or within 4 weeks of Visit 0A
22. Have a known intolerance to mannitol or β2-agonists
23. Have uncontrolled hypertension - e.g. for adults: systolic blood pressure (BP) \> 190 and or diastolic BP \> 100
24. Subject has a condition or is in a situation which in the Investigator's opinion may put the subject at significant risk, may confound results or may interfere significantly with the patient's participation in the study
25. Have previously been screen failed for the study (exceptions - see section 3.3.2 Eligibility Criteria - Rescreening)
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Bronchiectasis confirmed by HRCT of the chest
* Clinically stable (not requiring antibiotics for at least 4 weeks preceding the study start date)
* Aged 18-70
* Chronic sputum production \> 5 mls for the majority of days in 3 months before enrolment
* Chronically colonized (on at least 2 occasions in the preceding 12 months) whilst clinically stable
* At least two exacerbations in the past year
* Patients able to tolerate a nebulized gentamicin challenge
* FEV1 \> 30% predicted
* Smoking \< 20 pack year history and ex-smokers \>1 year.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Cystic fibrosis
* Emphysema on HRCT chest
* Thoracic surgery within the past 1 year
* Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
* Poorly controlled asthma ( \> 20% diurnal variation in peak expiratory flows despite treatment)
* Unstable angina or uncontrolled congestive cardiac failure
* Active malignancy
* Pregnancy or breast feeding
* Creatinine clearance \< 30 mls/minute
* Vestibular instability
* Previous documented intolerance to aminoglycosides

Answer: A