title: Efficacy of adapalene/benzoyl peroxide combination in moderate inflammatory acne and its impact on patient adherence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adapalene 0.1 %/benzoyl peroxide (BPO) 2.5 % (Epiduo®) is the first, fixed-dose topical combination gel developed for the once-daily treatment of acne. The objective of this observational study was to assess efficacy and patient adherence under daily clinical practice conditions in a large population of young adults and adolescents (12 to 20 years) with moderate inflammatory acne.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2 780 patients receiving adapalene-BPO were evaluated in this multicenter, open-label, prospective non-interventional observational study. Observation time per patient was approximately 12 weeks. Assessment parameters included changes in acne severity, treatment success, safety, and therapeutic adherence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 12 weeks, the majority of patients (91.5 %) showed improvement of acne under adapalene-BPO treatment, with an initial therapeutic response noted after a median time of 14 days. Overall, 21.8 % of participants displayed complete resolution of visible acne lesions. Treatment adherence was assessed as good in 63.2 % of patients. The majority of individuals (69.5 %) experienced no or only mild local skin irritations. No serious adverse drug reactions (ADR) were reported during the course of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adapalene-BPO is effective and safe in the treatment of moderate inflammatory acne. The fixed-dose combination and easy application simplifies the therapeutic regimen, leading to good treatment adherence in the majority of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Harald P M
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Gollnick
authors.affiliation: Hautarztpraxis Waltrop, Germany.
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Funke
authors.affiliation: Hautarztpraxis Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kors
authors.affiliation: Hautarztpraxis Augsburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Titzmann
authors.affiliation: med:unit, Köln, Germany.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jöstingmeyer
authors.affiliation: Galderma Laboratorium GmbH, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jäckel
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D000068816:Adapalene / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000068816:Adapalene; D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide