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.