Use of macrolide compounds for the treatment of ARDS

A method for treating an inflammatory lung condition characterized by pulmonary edema which comprises administering a tricyclic compound of the following formula (I):

• wherein each of adjacent pairs of R1 and R2, R3 and R4, and R5 and R6 independently
• (a) is two adjacent hydrogen atoms, but R2 may also be an alkyl group or
• (b) may form another bond formed between the carbon atoms to which they are attached;
• R7 is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group, a protected hydroxy group selected from the group of 1-(lower alkylthio)-(lower)alkyl group, tri(lower)alkylsilyl group, aliphatic acyl group and aromatic acyl groups, or an alkoxy group, or an oxo group together with R1;
• R8 and R9 are independently a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy group;
• R10 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkyl group substituted by one or more hydroxy groups, an alkenyl group, an alkenyl group substituted by one or more hydroxy groups, or an alkyl group substituted by an oxo group;
• X is an oxo group;
• a hydrogen atom and a hydroxy group;
• a hydrogen atom and a hydrogen atom;
• or a group represented by the formula —CH2O—;
• Y is an oxo group;
• a hydrogen atom and a hydroxy group;
• a hydrogen atom and a hydrogen atom;
• or a group represented by the formula ═N—NR11R12 or ═N—OR13;
• R11 and R12 are independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a tosyl group;
• R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, R18, R19, R22 and R23 are independently a hydrogen atom or an alkyd group;
• R24 is an optionally substituted cyclo(C5-7)alkyl group;
• n is an integer of 1 or 2;
• and
• in addition to the above definitions, Y, R and R23, together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached, may represent a saturated or unsaturated 5- or 6-membered one nitrogen, sulfur or oxygen containing heterocyclic ring optionally substituted by one or more groups selected from the group consisting of an alkyl, a hydroxy, an alkoxy, a benzyl, a group of the formula —CH2Se(C6H5), and an alkyl substituted by one or more hydroxy groups;
• or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt, to a mammal.