Evaluation of topical erythromycin and oral tetracycline in acne vulgaris.
A double-blind study was conducted to compare topical erythromycin 1.5 percent solution (Staticin solution) with oral tetracycline (250 mg) twice a day in fifty-four patients with Grades II and III acne vulgaris. Although both therapies produced a statistically significant reduction in the number and severity of the acne lesions, the topical preparation usually showed an effect earlier and to a greater degree than the oral medication. By the end of the study, some of these differences were statistically significant. After twelve weeks of treatment, topical erythromycin therapy produced a 58 percent reduction in the overall lesion count, as opposed to the 38 percent reduction produced by oral tetracycline therapy. In addition, the Propionibacterium acnes counts were reduced with erythromycin by over 90 percent and with tetracycline treatment by over 80 percent. Two patients treated with tetracycline developed vaginal candidiasis and therapy had to be discontinued. During topical treatment with erythromycin only mild adverse experiences were reported and none resulted in withdrawal from the study.
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011897:Random Allocation; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors
D004917:Erythromycin; D013752:Tetracycline