Summary
The data of a double-blind cooperative trial of thiamphenicol (TP), tetracycline (TE) and placebo (PL) in a two-week oral treatment of acne vulgaris were subjected to a study of the observers' attitudes. The study provided no evidence that the “PL-optimistic” doctors judged either antibiotic more favorably than the “PL-pessimistic”. A technique for analyzing factorial experiments when the data are frequencies m unbalanced groups was used in a computerized form to evaluate the effects of the oral treatments as well as the interactions with the factors “Sex”, “Severity” and “Topical treatment”. The advantage of TP (63% satisfactory responses) over PL (34%) was proved beyond doubt, irrespective of any factors studied; the addition of a topical treatment is a useful cofactor only in the severe forms in female patients. The advantage of TE (50% overall satisfactory responses) over PL was detected in female patients only. This finding, as well as the potent action of TP, are discussed in view of the acne ameliorating mechanism/s of these antibiotics.
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Frigerio, G., Ferrari, V. Factors in the estimated response of acne vulgaris to antibiotics. Pharmacol. Clin. 2, 113–119 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00420717
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00420717