Comparative efficacy and safety of oral azithromycin versus doxycycline in moderate-to-severe Acne vulgaris: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Asia Batool, Muhammad Sharjeel Abbas, Makhzan Ali Akbar et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of oral azithromycin versus doxycycline in 2,769 patients with moderate to severe acne vulgaris. The analysis revealed a significant improvement in global acne severity with azithromycin, showing a mean difference (MD) of 1.81 in GAGS reduction. Azithromycin also led to a greater reduction in non-inflammatory lesions compared to doxycycline.
Key findings
- Azithromycin showed a GAGS reduction with a mean difference of 1.81 compared to doxycycline.
- Non-inflammatory lesion counts decreased significantly more with azithromycin (MD -7.56).
- No significant difference was found in inflammatory lesion reduction (MD 1.08).
Why it matters
Understanding the comparative efficacy and safety of acne treatments is crucial for optimizing patient care. This study suggests that azithromycin may be a viable alternative to doxycycline, particularly for patients who experience side effects from traditional therapies.