Phase II Investigation of the Efficacy of Antimycobacterial Therapy in Chronic Pulmonary Sarcoidosis.
BACKGROUND
A Phase I, single-center investigation found that 8 weeks of antimycobacterial therapy improved sarcoidosis FVC. Safety and efficacy assessments have not been performed in a multicenter cohort.


RESEARCH QUESTION
The objective of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of antimycobacterial therapy on the physiological and immunologic end points of sarcoidosis.


STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter investigation, patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis were randomly assigned to receive 16 weeks of concomitant levofloxacin, ethambutol, azithromycin, and rifabutin (CLEAR) or matching placebo to investigate the effect on FVC. The primary outcome was a comparison of change in percentage of predicted FVC among patients randomized to receive CLEAR or placebo in addition to their baseline immunosuppressive regimen. Secondary outcomes included 6-min walk distance (6MWD), St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score, adverse events, and decrease in mycobacterial early secreted antigenic target of 6 kDa (ESAT-6) immune responses.


RESULTS
The intention-to-treat analysis revealed no significant differences in change in FVC among the 49 patients randomized to receive CLEAR (1.1% decrease) compared with the 48 randomized to receive placebo (0.02% increase) (P = .64). Physiological parameters such as the change in 6MWD were likewise similar (P = .91); change in SGRQ favored placebo (-8.0 for placebo vs -1.5 for CLEAR; P = .028). The per-protocol analysis revealed no significant change in FVC at 16 weeks between CLEAR and placebo. There was no significant change in 6MWD (36.4 m vs 6.3 m; P = .24) or SGRQ (-2.3 vs -7.0; P = .14). A decline in ESAT-6 immune responses at 16 weeks was noted among CLEAR-treated patients (P = .0003) but not patients receiving placebo (P = .24).


INTERPRETATION
Despite a significant decline in ESAT-6 immune responses, a 16-week CLEAR regimen provided no physiological benefit in FVC or 6MWD among patients with sarcoidosis.
['Drake|Wonder P|WP|', 'Culver|Daniel A|DA|', 'Baughman|Robert P|RP|', 'Judson|Marc A|MA|', 'Crouser|Elliott D|ED|', 'James|W Ennis|WE|', 'Ayers|Gregory D|GD|', 'Ding|Tan|T|', 'Abel|Kenny|K|', 'Green|Abena|A|', 'Kerrigan|Amy|A|', 'Sesay|Ahmed|A|', 'Bernard|Gordon R|GR|']
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents D000995:Antitubercular Agents D017963:Azithromycin D002908:Chronic Disease D004311:Double-Blind Method D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination D004977:Ethambutol D005260:Female D006801:Humans D064704:Levofloxacin D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D012129:Respiratory Function Tests D017828:Rifabutin D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary
antimycobacterial therapy sarcoidosis FVC ESAT-6