oxytetracycline--anhydrous and Rosacea

Oxytetracycline is a bacteriostatic antibiotic. Newly discovered, additional mechanisms of action include antioxidant, antiinflammatory and immynosupresive activity of oxytetracycline and other tetracyclines. These activities were the basis for developing therapy regimens with oxytetracycline in subantimicrobial doses. Due to its significant efficacy, limited adverse effects and low therapy costs, oxytetracycline at the dose of 500 mg per day is presently considered as therapy of choice in papulopustulous acne. Rosacea and perioral dermatitis are other indications. Topical oxytetracycline shows significant efficacy in primary and secondary skin infections with inflammatory reaction.

Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Administration, Oral; Administration, Topical; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Dermatologic Agents; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Oxytetracycline; Rosacea

A prospective, randomised, double blind, partial crossover, placebo controlled trial has been conducted to compare the performance of topical fusidic acid gel (Fucithalmic) and oral oxytetracycline as treatment for symptomatic chronic blepharitis. Treatment success was judged both by a reduction in symptoms and clinical examination before and after therapy. Seventy five per cent of patients with blepharitis and associated rosacea were symptomatically improved by fusidic acid gel and 50% by oxytetracycline, but fewer (35%) appeared to benefit from the combination. Patients with chronic blepharitis of other aetiologies did not respond to fusidic acid gel but 25% did benefit from oxytetracycline and 30% from the combination. Our results demonstrate the need to investigate patients with blepharitis for concomitant rosacea as they respond well to targeted therapy.

Topics: Blepharitis; Chronic Disease; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Fusidic Acid; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Oxytetracycline; Prospective Studies; Rosacea

In a randomized double-blind trial fifty-one patients with rosacea were treated for 2 months with either I% metronidazole cream and placebo tablets or with 250 mg oxytetracycline tablets taken twice daily, and placebo cream (the cream base). The patients were assessed before and at the end of the trial, using the following criteria: (1) overall clinical assessment, (2) lesion counts, (3) degree of erythema, (4) independent photographic evaluation, (5) patients' opinion. An improvement was shown in 90% of the patients of both groups, and there was no significant difference between the two treatments.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Administration, Topical; Adult; Clinical Trials as Topic; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Metronidazole; Oxytetracycline; Random Allocation; Rosacea; Tablets

Thirty-five patients with ocular rosacea were admitted to a trial of systemic oxytetracycline, 250 mg b.d. for 6 weeks. Oxytetracycline produced a significantly higher number of remissions than the placebo, 11/35. With repeated or continuous treatment 19/35 patients achieved a sustained remission for 8 months. There were no side effects. The nonspecific signs of ocular rosacea responded well to the treatment, but no permanent change in the conjunctival or corneal vascularisation occurred.

Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Double-Blind Method; Eye Diseases; Humans; Oxytetracycline; Rosacea

Forty patients with papulo-pustular rosacea were treated for 12 weeks on a random double-blind basis either with oxytetracycline 250 mg twice daily or with metronidazole 200 mg twice daily. Both drugs produced an improvement which was greater after 12 weeks than after 6 weeks, but there was no significant difference between them. Metronidazole appears to be a safe and effective drug for the treatment of rosacea.

Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Double-Blind Method; Humans; Metronidazole; Oxytetracycline; Rosacea

Topics: Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Drug Therapy, Combination; Facial Dermatoses; Female; Humans; Oxytetracycline; Prednisolone; Rosacea; Treatment Outcome; Vulva; Vulvar Diseases

The results of the oxytetracycline therapy given orally to 26 patients with severe papulopustular rosacea are presented. The biopsies were taken at the most typical sites. In 19 out of 26 patients the pathological changes characteristic of papulopustular rosacea were found. In 7 out of 26 patients epitheloid granulomas without central caseation were histologically observed. In these 7 patients tuberculosis was excluded (the absence of other tuberculous stigmata, normal laboratory data). Tetracycline (oxytetracycline) was given orally to 26 patients. One month later, a remarkable clinical improvement could be seen, i.e. the papules and pustules disappeared in all 26 patients and the recurrence of the disease could not be noticed in any patient during a 2.5-year-observation period. As no signs of tuberculosis could be detected in these patients, the authors believe that rosaceiform changes with epitheloid granulomas should be systematized in rosacea as "rosacea-like eruptions". A good therapeutic response of "rosacea-like eruptions" to tetracyclines could possibly confirm the authors' hypothesis.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Facial Dermatoses; Granuloma; Humans; Middle Aged; Oxytetracycline; Rosacea

Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Adolescent; Adult; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Oxytetracycline; Rosacea

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Granuloma; Humans; Middle Aged; Oxytetracycline; Rosacea; Sarcoidosis; Skin Diseases

Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Adolescent; Adult; Body Weight; Child; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Oxytetracycline; Recurrence; Rosacea; Time Factors

Topics: Adult; Contraceptives, Oral; Dentifrices; Dermatitis; Facial Dermatoses; Female; Humans; Menstruation; Neomycin; Oxytetracycline; Prednisolone; Rosacea; Sex Factors

Topics: Conjunctivitis; Epinephrine; Humans; Keratitis; Oxytetracycline; Rosacea; Zinc