Efficacy of clarithromycin in pityriasis rosea.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of clarithromycin in the treatment of Pityriasis Rosea (PR). STUDY DESIGN: Double blind randomized controlled trial. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Dermatology OPD, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from July 2008 to July 2009. METHODOLOGY: Patients aged above 10 years, diagnosed with PR, were randomly assigned to two groups of 30 each to receive either clarithromycin or similar-looking placebo for one week. Neither the patient nor the treating physician knew to which group the patient belonged. Patients were assessed at 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks after presentation and compared for complete, partial or no response. RESULTS: Among the 60 patients, no significant difference was found between the two groups at 2 weeks after presentation (p = 0.598). In the placebo group, complete response was seen in 20 (66.7%), partial response in 3 (10.0%) while no response was seen in 7 (23.3%). In clarithromycin group, there was complete response in 23 (76.7%), partial response in 3 (10.0%) and no response in 4 (13.3%) patients. CONCLUSION: Clarithromycin is not effective in treatment of pityriasis rosea.

Frequency of HCV infection in different dermatological disorders.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) has estimated affected nearly 3% of the world population. Studies in Pakistan have shown a somewhat higher prevalence. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with dermatological disorders, known to be associated with HCV infection. METHOD: This was a descriptive study, conducted at Departments of Dermatology, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi and PNS Shifa, Karachi from September 2003 to November 2005. There were 355 patients of the dermatologic disorders mentioned above. HCV status was determined by the presence of anti-HCV antibodies in the serum, by third generation ELISA. RESULTS: In this study 14% of lichen planus, 8% of generalised pruritus, 7.8% of urticaria, 8.7% of prurigo, and 50% of porphyria cutanea tarda patients had underlying HCV infection. None of the patients of leukocytoclastic vasculitis, erythema multiforme or erythema nodosum had anti-HCV antibodies. No patient of mixed cryoglobulinaemia or polyarteritis nodosa was seen during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Patients of lichen planus, generalised pruritus, urticaria, prurigo, and porphyria cutanea tarda have increased frequency of HCV infection compared to normal population of our country. In contrast, none of the patients of leukocytoclastic vasculitis, erythema multiforme or erythema nodosum had HCV infection.