Comparing 10-day and 4-month doxycycline courses for treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis-reactive arthritis: a prospective, double-blind trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the efficacy of a 10-day and a 4-month doxycylcine course for the treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis-reactive arthritis (Ct-ReA).

METHODS:

Patients with active Ct-ReA were enrolled in a prospective, multicentre, double-blind, controlled clinical trial and randomised to receive doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 10 days followed either by placebo or by continued doxycycline 100 mg twice daily over 4 months. Various clinical and laboratory parameters referring to disease activity were recorded in the beginning and at the end of treatment.

RESULTS:

32 of 37 patients included (15 men and 17 women; mean (standard deviation) disease duration 17 (13) months completed the study; 17 were randomised to short-term doxycycline and placebo (placebo group) and 15 to prolonged treatment with doxycycline (doxycycline group) over the 4-month study period. After this time, only two patients from each group went into remission. There were no drop-outs owing to adverse events or treatment failures.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results of this study suggest that prolonged treatment with a 4-month course of doxycycline is not superior to short-term treatment over 10 days in patients with Ct-ReA.

• Authors: N Putschky, H-G Pott, J G Kuipers, H Zeidler, M Hammer, J Wollenhaupt
• Journal: Annals of the rheumatic diseases (Ann Rheum Dis) Vol. 65 Issue 11 Pg. 1521-4 (Nov 2006) ISSN: 0003-4967 [Print] England
• PMID: 17038453 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• PHB2 protein, human
• Prohibitins
• Doxycycline

Topics

• Adult
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Arthritis, Reactive (drug therapy)
• Chlamydia Infections (drug therapy)
• Chlamydia trachomatis
• Double-Blind Method
• Doxycycline (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prohibitins
• Prospective Studies
• Severity of Illness Index
• Treatment Outcome