Efficacy of methacycline in moderate acne vulgaris: Preliminary results [Efficacia della metaciclina nell'acne moderata: Risultati preliminari]

Aim: To study the efficacy and safety of systemic methacycline in moderate inflammatory acne vulgaris. Patients and Methods: An open-label non comparative study was carried out for 8 weeks at the Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery of "La Sapienza" University in Rome. Twenty-five patients (11 women, 14 men), between 15 and 35 years of age (mean age ± 22 years), affected by moderate inflammatory acne vulgaris, were enrolled in this study. Patients were treated with topical adapalene 0,1% gel o cream (in the evening) in association with systemic methacycline (300 mg orally twice daily for 6 weeks of therapy, then 300 mg orally once daily for the last two weeks). Patients were examined at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks (end of study), evaluating both clinical (Global Acne Grading System, GAGS) and quality of life (Acne Quality of Life Questionnaire, AQoL) improvement. Results: 22 patients completed the study and showed significant improvement. Side effects (abnominal pain) were recorded in only 4 patients and 3 of them interrupted the treatment. Conclusion: Systemic methacycline is a safe and effective treatment of moderate inflammatory acne vulgaris with an excellent patient compliance. © Copyright 2006, CIC Edizioni Internazionali.