Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages
Filter by Categories
15th National Conference of the IAOMFP, Chennai, 2006
Abstract
Abstracts from current literature
Acne in India: Guidelines for management - IAA Consensus Document
Addendum
Announcement
Art & Psychiatry
Article
Articles
Association Activities
Association Notes
Award Article
Book Review
Brief Report
Case Analysis
Case Letter
Case Letters
Case Notes
Case Report
Case Reports
Clinical and Laboratory Investigations
Clinical Article
Clinical Studies
Clinical Study
Commentary
Conference Oration
Conference Summary
Continuing Medical Education
Correspondence
Corrigendum
Cosmetic Dermatology
Cosmetology
Current Best Evidence
Current Issue
Current View
Derma Quest
Dermato Surgery
Dermatopathology
Dermatosurgery Specials
Dispensing Pearl
Do you know?
Drug Dialogues
e-IJDVL
Editor Speaks
Editorial
Editorial Remarks
Editorial Report
Editorial Report - 2007
Editorial report for 2004-2005
Errata
Erratum
Focus
Fourth All India Conference Programme
From Our Book Shelf
From the Desk of Chief Editor
General
Get Set for Net
Get set for the net
Guest Article
Guest Editorial
History
How I Manage?
IADVL Announcement
IADVL Announcements
IJDVL Awards
IJDVL AWARDS 2015
IJDVL Awards 2018
IJDVL Awards 2019
IJDVL Awards 2020
IJDVL International Awards 2018
Images in Clinical Practice
In Memorium
Inaugural Address
Index
Knowledge From World Contemporaries
Leprosy Section
Letter in Response to Previous Publication
Letter to Editor
Letter to the Editor
Letter to the Editor - Case Letter
Letter to the Editor - Letter in Response to Published Article
LETTER TO THE EDITOR - LETTERS IN RESPONSE TO PUBLISHED ARTICLES
Letter to the Editor - Observation Letter
Letter to the Editor - Study Letter
Letter to the Editor - Therapy Letter
Letter to the Editor: Articles in Response to Previously Published Articles
Letters in Response to Previous Publication
Letters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor - Letter in Response to Previously Published Articles
Letters to the Editor: Case Letters
Letters to the Editor: Letters in Response to Previously Published Articles
Medicolegal Window
Messages
Miscellaneous Letter
Musings
Net Case
Net case report
Net Image
Net Images
Net Letter
Net Quiz
Net Study
New Preparations
News
News & Views
Obituary
Observation Letter
Observation Letters
Oration
Original Article
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION
Original Contributions
Pattern of Skin Diseases
Pearls
Pediatric Dermatology
Pediatric Rounds
Perspective
Presedential Address
Presidential Address
Presidents Remarks
Quiz
Recommendations
Regret
Report
Report of chief editor
Report of Hon : Treasurer IADVL
Report of Hon. General Secretary IADVL
Research Methdology
Research Methodology
Resident page
Resident's Page
Resident’s Page
Residents' Corner
Residents' Corner
Residents' Page
Retraction
Review
Review Article
Review Articles
Reviewers 2022
Revision Corner
Self Assessment Programme
SEMINAR
Seminar: Chronic Arsenicosis in India
Seminar: HIV Infection
Short Communication
Short Communications
Short Report
Snippets
Special Article
Specialty Interface
Studies
Study Letter
Study Letters
Supplement-Photoprotection
Supplement-Psoriasis
Symposium - Contact Dermatitis
Symposium - Lasers
Symposium - Pediatric Dermatoses
Symposium - Psoriasis
Symposium - Vesicobullous Disorders
SYMPOSIUM - VITILIGO
Symposium Aesthetic Surgery
Symposium Dermatopathology
Symposium-Hair Disorders
Symposium-Nails Part I
Symposium-Nails-Part II
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses
Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis
Tables
Technology
Therapeutic Guideline-IADVL
Therapeutic Guidelines
Therapeutic Guidelines - IADVL
Therapeutics
Therapy
Therapy Letter
Therapy Letters
View Point
Viewpoint
What’s new in Dermatology
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages
Filter by Categories
15th National Conference of the IAOMFP, Chennai, 2006
Abstract
Abstracts from current literature
Acne in India: Guidelines for management - IAA Consensus Document
Addendum
Announcement
Art & Psychiatry
Article
Articles
Association Activities
Association Notes
Award Article
Book Review
Brief Report
Case Analysis
Case Letter
Case Letters
Case Notes
Case Report
Case Reports
Clinical and Laboratory Investigations
Clinical Article
Clinical Studies
Clinical Study
Commentary
Conference Oration
Conference Summary
Continuing Medical Education
Correspondence
Corrigendum
Cosmetic Dermatology
Cosmetology
Current Best Evidence
Current Issue
Current View
Derma Quest
Dermato Surgery
Dermatopathology
Dermatosurgery Specials
Dispensing Pearl
Do you know?
Drug Dialogues
e-IJDVL
Editor Speaks
Editorial
Editorial Remarks
Editorial Report
Editorial Report - 2007
Editorial report for 2004-2005
Errata
Erratum
Focus
Fourth All India Conference Programme
From Our Book Shelf
From the Desk of Chief Editor
General
Get Set for Net
Get set for the net
Guest Article
Guest Editorial
History
How I Manage?
IADVL Announcement
IADVL Announcements
IJDVL Awards
IJDVL AWARDS 2015
IJDVL Awards 2018
IJDVL Awards 2019
IJDVL Awards 2020
IJDVL International Awards 2018
Images in Clinical Practice
In Memorium
Inaugural Address
Index
Knowledge From World Contemporaries
Leprosy Section
Letter in Response to Previous Publication
Letter to Editor
Letter to the Editor
Letter to the Editor - Case Letter
Letter to the Editor - Letter in Response to Published Article
LETTER TO THE EDITOR - LETTERS IN RESPONSE TO PUBLISHED ARTICLES
Letter to the Editor - Observation Letter
Letter to the Editor - Study Letter
Letter to the Editor - Therapy Letter
Letter to the Editor: Articles in Response to Previously Published Articles
Letters in Response to Previous Publication
Letters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor - Letter in Response to Previously Published Articles
Letters to the Editor: Case Letters
Letters to the Editor: Letters in Response to Previously Published Articles
Medicolegal Window
Messages
Miscellaneous Letter
Musings
Net Case
Net case report
Net Image
Net Images
Net Letter
Net Quiz
Net Study
New Preparations
News
News & Views
Obituary
Observation Letter
Observation Letters
Oration
Original Article
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION
Original Contributions
Pattern of Skin Diseases
Pearls
Pediatric Dermatology
Pediatric Rounds
Perspective
Presedential Address
Presidential Address
Presidents Remarks
Quiz
Recommendations
Regret
Report
Report of chief editor
Report of Hon : Treasurer IADVL
Report of Hon. General Secretary IADVL
Research Methdology
Research Methodology
Resident page
Resident's Page
Resident’s Page
Residents' Corner
Residents' Corner
Residents' Page
Retraction
Review
Review Article
Review Articles
Reviewers 2022
Revision Corner
Self Assessment Programme
SEMINAR
Seminar: Chronic Arsenicosis in India
Seminar: HIV Infection
Short Communication
Short Communications
Short Report
Snippets
Special Article
Specialty Interface
Studies
Study Letter
Study Letters
Supplement-Photoprotection
Supplement-Psoriasis
Symposium - Contact Dermatitis
Symposium - Lasers
Symposium - Pediatric Dermatoses
Symposium - Psoriasis
Symposium - Vesicobullous Disorders
SYMPOSIUM - VITILIGO
Symposium Aesthetic Surgery
Symposium Dermatopathology
Symposium-Hair Disorders
Symposium-Nails Part I
Symposium-Nails-Part II
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses
Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis
Tables
Technology
Therapeutic Guideline-IADVL
Therapeutic Guidelines
Therapeutic Guidelines - IADVL
Therapeutics
Therapy
Therapy Letter
Therapy Letters
View Point
Viewpoint
What’s new in Dermatology
View/Download PDF

Translate this page into:

Original Article
2003:69:4;274-276
PMID: 17642910

Comparison of oral azithromycin pulse with daily doxycycline in the treatment of acne vulgaris

MK Singhi, BC Ghiya, RK Dhabhai
 Departments of Skin, V.D. & Leprosy, Dr. S. N. Medical College, Jodhpur, India

Correspondence Address:
M K Singhi
Bunglow No. 3, Mathuradas Mathur Hospital Road, Jodhpur
India
How to cite this article:
Singhi M K, Ghiya B C, Dhabhai R K. Comparison of oral azithromycin pulse with daily doxycycline in the treatment of acne vulgaris . Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2003;69:274-276
Copyright: (C)2003 Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology

Abstract

Introduction: Oral azithromycin has been advocated by some in the treatment of acne. However, its efficacy has not been established. Material and Methods: This non-randomized controlled trial was conducted on 70 outpatients with acne vulgaris to compare the efficacy and safety of azithromycin and doxycycline in the treatment of inflammatory acne. In the first group, azithromycin was administered 500 mg daily before meals for 3 consecutive days in a 10-day cycle, with the remaining seven days in each cycle being drug-free days. The second group was given doxycycline 100 mg daily after meals. Topical erythromycin was prescribed to all patients. Clinical assessment was done at 10-day intervals for both the groups up to three months. We followed the severity index described by Michaelsson for assessment of outcome measures. Results: There was 77.26% improvement in azithromycin treated group in comparison to 63.74% in the doxycycline treated group. There was a statistically significant reduction in severity in the azithromycin treated group. Conclusion: The study showed that a combination of azithromycin with topical erythromycin was significantly better than doxycycline with topical erythromycin in the treatment of acne vulgaris. The incidence and severity of side effects were also lower with azithromycin.
Keywords: Azithromycin, Acne Vulgaris, Doxycycline
INTRODUCTION

Acne vulgaris is the most common dermatological disorder in adolescence. As a matter of fact, no individual transits through adolescence without a few comedones and papules.[1] For the last 2-3 decades, systemic antibiotics, mainly tetracyclines and erythromycins, have assumed the main role in the management of acne patients with inflammatory papules and cysts. They require frequent administration and are sometimes associated with side effects, contributing to reduced compliance.[2] Hence, we studied the efficacy and safety of oral azithromycin and topical erythromycin in the treatment of acne vulgaris in comparison to oral doxycycline and topical erythromycin.

Azithromycin belongs to the azalide group of antibiotics and is closely related structurally to macrolides like erythromycin. It is more tissue stable, penetrates deeply into tissue and has a higher terminal half-life than erythromycin. It is approved mainly for the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis and uncomplicated skin infections.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Seventy patients participated in the study, of whom 62 completed it. All of them had moderate to severe acne as proposed by a Consensus Conference for the Classification of Acne,[3] and had not responded to conventional therapy. Patients taking antibiotics for any other reason, pregnant women and patients of liver disease were excluded. Fifty five patients had lesions over the back and chest too. Most of the patients had acne since two years and a few, since 5 years.

In all the cases the acne lesions were graded according to the severity index described by Michaelsson et al[4] by counting the number of open or closed comedones, papules, pustules, and infiltrated and cystic lesions. Michaelsson described the severity index as 0.5 for comedones, 1 for papule, 2 for pustules, 3 for infiltrated lesions and 4 for cystic lesions. The total severity score of disease was calculated by multiplying each type of lesion with its severity index and adding them together.

Patients were divided into two groups. The first group was given azithromycin 500 mg daily before meals for 3 consecutive days in a 10-day cycle, with the remaining seven days in each cycle being drug-free. The second group was given doxycycline 100 mg daily after meals. Topical erythromycin twice daily was prescribed to all patients. Patients were clinically assessed at 10-day intervals for up to three months. Each time the severity index of the disease was calculated and recorded by two clinicians (the average of the two scores was taken), and clinical photographs were taken. The final clinical assessment was done and the severity index was calculated at the end of the third month.

RESULTS

Seventy patients participated in the study, 45 female and 25 male; 32 were treated with doxycycline and 38 with azithromycin [Table - 1]. Six patients (4 from the doxycycline and 2 from the azithromycin group) were lost to follow up. In two doxycycline treated patients, treatment was withdrawn due to serious side effects: one had esophageal ulceration and another had photo-onycholysis. Sixty two patients completed the study. The mean severity index for the azithromycin group declined from 254.96 pretreatment (range 153.5 to 446.5) to 59.93 after treatment for 90 days (range 15-266), an improvement of 77.26% on average [Table - 2]. In 19 (52.8%) patients there was > 80% improvement, in 13 patients (36.1%) there was 40-80% improvement, and only 4 (11.1%) had less than 40% improvement. There was an average of 10% improvement after the first cycle, about 50% after 4 cycles, and 72% after 8 cycles. Three patients complained of slight gastric upset but the drug did not need to be discontinued.

In the doxycycline treated group, the mean severity index declined from 234.76 (range 178-365.5) at the start of the study to 82.85 (range 32-234) after treatment for 3 months, an overall improvement of 63.74%. More than 80% improvement was seen in 5 (19.23%) patients, 40-80% in 16 (61.54%) and less than 80% improvement in 5 (19.23%) patients. There was only 12% overall improvement, which was nearly 50% after 60 days improvement. Three patients had diarrhea, four gastric upset, one esophageal ulceration and one, photo-onycholysis.

The severity reduction was compared with both drugs and it was tested with t-test for difference between the means; this also showed significant change in the reduction of lesions. The mean severity index of the two drugs was 254.94 ± 70.39 for azithromycin and 234.76 ± 54.71 for doxycycline. After treatment the mean score reduced to 55.93 ± 55.68 and 82.85 ± 59.4 respectively.

There was a significant difference between the severity reduction when comparing the effects of azithromycin and doxycycline (p < 0.01). Similarly when proportions were compared with the two drugs, viz. azithromycin and doxycycline, this showed a significant reduction after 3 months and the percentage decrease was around 77.26% and p < 0.05.

DISCUSSION

Our findings suggested that a combination of azithromycin and topical erythromycin was significantly better than doxycycline and topical erythromycin in the treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris. More than 80% improvement was seen in 19 (52.8%) patients in the azithromycin group, but only 5 (19.2%) in the doxycycline group. Overall there was 77.26% improvement in the azithromycin group in comparison to 63.74% in the doxycycline group and this difference was statistically significant.

Similar results were obtained by Fernandez et al[5] who gave azithromycin 250 mg per day for 3 days in a week; after 4 weeks he found 85% reduction in acne lesions compared with 77.1% for other antibiotics (doxycycline, tetracycline and minocycline). Prasad D et al[6] found doxycycline 100 mg daily to be as effective as azithromycin 500 mg for 4 days in a month. As the effect of the azithromycin lasts for 10 days, we tried the 10-day cycle in our treatment regimen. Plewig et al[7] found that 33% of patients had good to excellent response (50-75%) to doxycycline in acne vulgaris, which is comparable to our results (38.71% had more then 80% reduction). Gruber et al[8] compared azithromycin with minocycline and observed a satisfactory clinical response (70-75%) with both the drugs. These findings suggest that azithromycin is a better alternative in patients with moderate to severe acne and has no serious side effects.

References
1.
Kligman AM. Morphogensis and treatment. In: Kligman AM, Plewig G, editors. Acne. Berlin: Springer Verlag; 1975. p.58-278.
[Google Scholar]
2.
Crounse RG. The response of acne to placebo and antibiotics. JAMA 1965;193:906-10.
[Google Scholar]
3.
Report of the Consensus Conference on Acne Classification. J Am Acad Dermatol 1991;24:495-500.
[Google Scholar]
4.
Michaelsson G, Juhlin L, Vahlquist A. Effect of oral zinc and vitamin A in acne. Arch Dermatol 1997;113:31-6.
[Google Scholar]
5.
Fernandez-Obregon AC. Azithromycin for the treatment of acne. Int J Dermatol 2000;1:45-50.
[Google Scholar]
6.
Prasad D, Pandhi R, Nagpal R, Negi K.S. Azithromycin monthly pulse vs daily doxycycline in the treatment of acne. Int J Dermatol 2001;28:1-4.
[Google Scholar]
7.
Plewig G, Petrozi JW, Berendes U. Double blind study of doxycycline in acne vulgaris. Arch Dermatol 1970;101:125-8.
[Google Scholar]
8.
Gruber F, Grbisic-Greblo H, Kastelen M, et al. Azithromycin compared with minocycline in the treatment of acne comedonica and papulo-pustulosa. J Chemother 1998;10:269-73.
[Google Scholar]

Fulltext Views
6,266

PDF downloads
459
Show Sections