title: Azithromycin versus penicillin V for the treatment of early Lyme borreliosis.
abstract: In a randomized multicenter therapeutic trial, 32 patients with erythema migrans received oral azithromycin 500 mg once daily and 33 patients received phenoxymethylpenicillin (penicillin V) 1 million U three times daily for 10 days. Follow-up was for a median of 17 (range 3-32) months. Four weeks after initiation of therapy, 20 (62%) patients given azithromycin and 17 (51%) patients given penicillin V were completely free of all signs and symptoms and did not develop new ones subsequently (no significant difference). Three months after initiation of therapy, the corresponding figures were 25 (78%) azithromycin and 28 (85%) penicillin V recipients (no significant difference). There were only minor sequelae such as arthralgia, headache, fatigue, stiff neck and dysesthesia. Azithromycin led to a significantly faster resolution of the erythema migrans than penicillin V (p < 0.001). Significantly more patients with more severe compared with mild initial disease had an elevated IgM antibody titer prior to therapy (p < 0.001). Usually mild to moderate side effects occurred in 12 patients given azithromycin and five patients given penicillin V (p < 0.05). Azithromycin appears to be as effective as penicillin V for the treatment of early Lyme borreliosis and it seems to clear the erythema migrans more promptly.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Mikrobiologie, Max von Pettenkofer Institut, Universität München, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wilske
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Preac-Mursic
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thurmayr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015787:Erythema Chronicum Migrans / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010404:Penicillin V / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D017963:Azithromycin; D010404:Penicillin V