Quetiapine versus clomipramine in the augmentation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: a randomized, open-label trial.

After 12 weeks of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) monotherapy with inadequate response, 10 patients received clomipramine and 11 received quetiapine as augmentation agents of the SSRI. The primary outcome measure was the difference between initial and final scores of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), rated in a blinded fashion, and the score of clinical global improvement (CGI-I). Statistical analyses were performed using nonparametric tests to evaluate treatment efficacy and the difference between treatment groups. Percentile plots were constructed with YBOCS scores from the clomipramine and quetiapine groups. Considering response a >or=35% reduction in the initial Y-BOCS score plus a rating of 'much improved' or 'very much improved' on CGI-I, four of eleven quetiapine patients and one out of ten clomipramine patients were classified as responders. The mean final Y-BOCS score was significantly lower than baseline in the quetiapine augmentation group (P = 0.023), but not in the clomipramine augmentation group (P = 0.503). The difference between groups showed a trend towards significance only at week 4, the mean Y-BOCS score being lower for those receiving quetiapine (P = 0.052). A difference between groups was also observed at week 4 according to percentile plots. These results corroborate previous findings of quetiapine augmentation efficacy in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Clomipramine augmentation did not produce a significant reduction in Y-BOCS scores. Higher target maximum dosages might have yielded different results.

Comparison of spiramycin and clarithromycin for community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections.

This open multicentre study compared the efficacy and tolerability of clarithromycin and spiramycin in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections in Brazil and Colombia. A total of 125 patients with a clinical and radiological diagnosis of pneumonia, acute bronchitis or exacerbation of chronic bronchitis were randomised to receive oral doses of either clarithromycin (500 mg) or spiramycin (3 MIU) every 12 hours for courses of 5-10 days. Patients were assessed before the start of treatment, and at days 3-4 and days 9-17. Twenty-six (26) patients (16 in the spiramycin group and 10 in the clarithromycin group) reported adverse events, seven of whom withdrew from the trial. Statistical analysis detected no significant differences between efficacy (p = 0.768) or tolerability (p = 0.236) for the two treatment groups. Spiramycin therefore has similar efficacy to clarithromycin in the treatment of community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections.