Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Acne is a multifactorial disease with multiple pathogenic factors, hence combination therapies are needed. Combination therapies using agents with complementary mechanisms of action increasingly are recognized as an effective strategy for treating acne.
OBJECTIVE:
The rationale of utilizing topical retinoids with azithromycin in treating facial acne vulgaris will be highlighted, particularly in relation to improvement.
METHODS:
A randomized, clinical trial was carried out at the outpatient Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Baghdad Teaching Hospital between April 2007 and August 2008.
A total of 48 patients with moderate to severe papulopustular acne vulgaris were allocated to two groups, azithromycin and azithromycin plus isotretinoin gel, both groups received Azithromycin for two months. Azithromycin 250 mg was prescribed every day for one month and every other day for the following month. Patients in second group were instructed to apply Isotretinoin gel 0.05% once daily over a 3 months treatment period. The clinical assessment was done by counting the number of inflammatory lesions in three occasions: baseline, two months and three months.
RESULT:
After two months, both groups showed a statistically significant difference from the baseline in reducing inflammatory lesions and improving acne. Adding topical isotretinoin gel produced a higher percentage of reduction in their lesional counts, but differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. After three months, regression in the percentage of reduction of the lesional count from 57.7% to 32.4% in the first group. While in the second group the reduction was maintain in 69.8%.
CONCLUSION:
Adding topical 0.05 per cent isotretinoin gel to oral azithromycin enhances and maintains the rate of improvement of facial acne vulgaris.