ERYTHROMYCIN LAURYL SULFATE IN COMBINATION WITH TRETINOIN IN THE TOPICAL TREATMENT OF ACNE-VULGARIS - A MULTICENTER DOUBLE-BLIND CLINICAL-TRIAL

Topical erythromycin and tretinoin (TRT) are estabished as effective treatments for acne vulgaris, Nevertheless, studies on the efficacy and safety of the combination of erythromycin and tretinoin are scarce, In a multicentre double-blind study, 272 patients were selected and randomized to one of the following three groups: (1) 2.75% erythromycin lauryl sulphate (ELS) (equivalent to 2% erythromycin base) applied in the morning and at night (n = 88); (2) placebo applied in the morning and 0.05% TRT at night (n = 92); (3) placebo applied in the morning and ELS/TRT at night, Treatments were applied for 10 weeks, Clinical assessments were performed at 0, 5 and 10 weeks, ELS/TRT was significantly better than ELS alone in the reduction of total (P < 0.001), open (P < 0.001) and closed comedones (P < 0.025), The efficacy of ELS/TRT was significantly better than that of TRT alone in the reduction of inflammatory lesions (P < 0.01) and pustules (P < 0.025), The mean grade of acne severity at week 10 was significantly lower with ELS/TRT than with ELS (P < 0.05), No serious side-effects were reported, Mild irritative effects were observed in patients treated with TRT, ELS/TRT applied once daily is therefore an effective and well-tolerated treatment for acne vulgaris, This combination significantly enhances the comedolytic action of TRT and the antiinflammatory effect of ELS.