title: Efficacy and safety of azithromycin versus lymecyline in the treatment of genital chlamydial infections in women.
abstract: To compare the clinical and microbiological efficacy of azithromycin in curing chlamydial infections in women with that of lymecycline, and with a view of the possibility of minimizing the problem of compliance by means of single-dose administration, 146 women with culture-positive Chlamydia trachomatis infections were randomly assigned to treatment with a 1 g bolus dose of azithromycin or a 10-day course of lymecycline 300 mg twice daily. Clinical and microbiological evaluations were performed and adverse effects monitored at check-ups after 15-35 and 40-65 days. Of the 146 patients enrolled in the study, 120 were evaluable. At the second check-up, C. trachomatis was found to have been eradicated in all patients in both treatment groups. Of the 51 patients who had clinical signs and symptoms of genital infection at enrolment, 96% (22/23) of those in the azithromycin group were considered cured (n = 18) or improved (n = 4), as compared with 100% (28/28) of those considered cured (n = 22) or improved (n = 6) in the lymecycline group. Adverse events related, or possibly related, to treatment were reported by 16 (21.6%) of the lymecycline group, but by only 6 (8.3%) of the azithromycin group. The 2 drugs were comparable with regard to microbiological and clinical efficacy in the treatment of genital chlamydial infection in women. The markedly lower rate of side-effects associated with azithromycin may be a feature conducive to patient compliance.
authors.affiliation: Division of Obsterics and Gynaecology, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brihmer
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Mårdh
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kallings
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Osser
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Röbech
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sikström
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wanger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008194:Lymecycline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008194:Lymecycline; D017963:Azithromycin