Comparison between oral azithromycin and doxycycline in meibomian gland dysfunction: a randomised controlled trial

Session Details

Session Title: Inflammation and Pathology

Session Date/Time: Sunday 11/09/2016 | 14:30-16:00

Paper Time: 15:24

Venue: Hall C2

First Author: : G.De Benedetti SPAIN

Co Author(s): :    A. Vaiano   E. Coronado Quitllet   I. Aldasoro Caceres              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To assess the efficacy and safety of oral azithromycin versus oral doxycycline inpatients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) who experienced failure with previous conservative treatment.

Setting:

Hospital Quirón Donostia, Spain and Hospital Clinic de Mataró, Barcelona, Spain

Methods:

82 patients with stage 3 or 4 MGD were enrolled. We evaluated visual acuity, tear film break-up time, Schirmer test results, corneal and conjunctival fluorescein staining results, biomicroscopic examination results of lid margins and meibomian glands before and after 5 days of azithromycin (group 1) or doxycicline for one month (group 2), at 1 week and one and three months follow-up. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Mann–Whitney U test were performed.

Results:

Symptoms and signs ameliorated significantly in both groups (p=0.001) in a similar fashion, while visual acuity (p=0.02), bulbar conjunctival redness ( p=0.01) and corneal staining (p=0.01) were significantly improved in the azithromycin group. Mild gastrointestinal side effects were not significantly different in the beginning, except from the second visit on, when the doxycycline group had significantly more side effects (p=0.004).

Conclusions:

Both oral azithromycin and doxycycline improved the symptoms of MGD but 5-day oral azithromycin appeared to have safer profile for its positive effect on improving the signs in a shorter time of treatment, with minimal side effects.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE