title: Efficacy of clarithromycin in pityriasis rosea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy of clarithromycin in the treatment of Pityriasis Rosea (PR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Double blind randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dermatology OPD, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from July 2008 to July 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients aged above 10 years, diagnosed with PR, were randomly assigned to two groups of 30 each to receive either clarithromycin or similar-looking placebo for one week. Neither the patient nor the treating physician knew to which group the patient belonged. Patients were assessed at 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks after presentation and compared for complete, partial or no response.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 60 patients, no significant difference was found between the two groups at 2 weeks after presentation (p = 0.598). In the placebo group, complete response was seen in 20 (66.7%), partial response in 3 (10.0%) while no response was seen in 7 (23.3%). In clarithromycin group, there was complete response in 23 (76.7%), partial response in 3 (10.0%) and no response in 4 (13.3%) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clarithromycin is not effective in treatment of pityriasis rosea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Combined Military Hospital, Multan.
authors.forename: Najia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iftikhar
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Combined Military Hospital, Gilgit.
authors.forename: Uzma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bashir
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Combined Military Hospital, Multan.
authors.forename: Syed Dilawar Abbas
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Rizvi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi.
authors.forename: Zafar Iqbal
authors.initials: ZI
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Avicenna Medical College, Lahore.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manzur
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017515:Pityriasis Rosea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017291:Clarithromycin