ERYTHROMYCIN: ITS GLYCEMIC EFFECT IN AN INFECTIOUS PATIENTS

Background: In the present study, our objective is to determine the effect of erythromycin therapy on glycemic level in nondiabetic patients suffering from mild acute bacterial pharyngitis. Materials and Methods, Sixteen hypersensitive patients to penicillin therapy with mild acute bacterial pharyngitis followed up for 1 month, all patients had a normal glycemic profile, they were divided into two groups with regard to sex, the first group contains 8 male patients, while the other includes 8 female patients, erythromycin stearate 250 mg PO qid, was indicated for two weeks, to investigate its effect on glucose serum. Common blood count and glucose profile were performed before, upon completion of treatment, as well as two weeks following discontinuation of erythromycin therapy. Results, orally prescribed erythromycin (250 mg PO qid) for 2 weeks produces no effect on glycemic profile in the first group but exerted reversible hypoglycemic effect in in most patients (75%) of the second category in females above 47 years of age. Conclusion, Erythromycin therapy in non-diabetic middle-aged female patients, should be used with caution, and must be evaluated clinically and by laboratory analysis in the first 2 weeks of treatment in order to minimize its possible hypoglycemic effect.