Effect of Long Term Clarithromycin for Prevention of Exacerbations in Non-cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis in Asian Populations

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients aged 50 years or older * At least 2 or more exacerbation requiring antibiotic treatment in the past year Clinically stable for at least 4 weeks prior to enrollment (defined as no symptoms of exacerbation, no requirement for supplemental antibiotic therapy) * Diagnosis of bronchiectasis defined by high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scan Exclusion Criteria: * History of cystic fibrosis; hypogammaglobulinemia; allergic bronchopulmonary aspergilosis, * Cigarette smoking within 6 months * A positive culture of non-tuberculosis mycobacteria in the past 2 years or at screening * Macrolide treatment for more than 3 months in the past 6 months * Oral or intravenous courses of corticosteroids within 30 days of screening * Any antimicrobial treatment for lower respiratory tract infection in the last 2 weeks * Unstable arrhythmia * History of coronary artery disease, or symptoms of heart disease * Known allergy or intolerance to macrolides * Patients with liver disease or with elevated transaminanse (aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels equal to or greater than the upper limit of the normal) * Concurrent medication: Colchicine, calcium channel blocker, statins, amiodarone, amitriptyline, trazodone, citalopram, disopyramide, itraconazole, saquinavir, ritaonavir, atazanavir, sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, theophylline, carbamazepine.