title: Randomized controlled trial of the tolerability, safety, and efficacy of adapalene gel 0.1% and tretinoin microsphere gel 0.1% for the treatment of acne vulgaris.
abstract: A prior meta-analysis of 5 randomized controlled trials indicates that adapalene gel 0.1% is as effective as tretinoin gel 0.025% against acne and has greater tolerability. To determine the tolerability and efficacy of adapalene gel 0.1% versus tretinoin microsphere gel 0.1% in 168 patients with acne vulgaris, we conducted a 12-week, multicenter, randomized, controlled, investigator-masked, parallel-group design study. Efficacy variables included noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total lesion counts; global grade; and global assessment of improvement in acne severity. Skin tolerability variables included erythema, desquamation (scaling), dryness, pruritus, and stinging/burning. Our results showed that the efficacy of adapalene gel 0.1% was comparable to that of tretinoin microsphere gel, and both treatments had similar onset of action. Cutaneous tolerability was noted in both groups, with scores significantly better with adapalene gel 0.1% than with tretinoin microsphere gel 0.1%, and significantly fewer treatment-related adverse events were reported with adapalene gel 0.1%.
authors.affiliation: Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thiboutot
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Jarratt
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Millikan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loesche
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000068816:Adapalene; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D009281:Naphthalenes; D000068816:Adapalene; D014212:Tretinoin