Amorim A, Gamboa F, Azevedo P
Pneumology Department, Centro Hospitalar São João, EPE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Rev Port Pneumol. 2013 Nov-Dec;19(6):266-75. doi: 10.1016/j.rppneu.2013.03.006. Epub 2013 Jul 11.
Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis remains a common and important respiratory disease to date. It is a chronic pathology and consequently the patients usually require continuous treatment. In recent decades therapies that do not have scientific evidence of their benefits have been commonly used in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. Cystic fibrosis has provided the experience to extrapolate therapeutic approaches to other bronchiectasis patients. Finally, in the last few years some trials have been carried out specifically in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis which aim to assess the efficacy of some of the treatments which are commonly used but sometimes without clear indication. This review will discuss the recent results from these trials, namely mucoactive, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic therapy. Several trials are ongoing and we hope they will be able to add clarification to the management of these patients.