Background: Moderate to severe acne vulgaris is often treated with a combination of an oral antibiotic, topical antibiotic/retinoid, and benzoyl peroxide (BP), but data are limited on the efficacy of this and other combination regimens that incorporate both oral and topical therapies.<BR>
Methods: Patients were required to be aged 12-30 years with moderate to severe acne (grades 3-4 acne on the Investigator's Global Assessment [IGA]) and deemed potential candidates for treatment with isotretinoin. Enrolled patients were given triple-combination therapy, defined in this study as oral minocycline HCl extended release 1 mg/kg QD, 6% BP foaming cloths used QD, and clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/tretinoin 0.025% gel applied QD, and were evaluated at baseline and weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12.<BR>
Results: A total of 97 patients were enrolled in the study. At week 12, 89% of patients had at least a one-grade improvement from baseline IGA and 96% had at least a one-grade improvement from baseline Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale score. Mean ± SD in- flammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesion counts decreased from baseline by 61.8% ± 38.3%, 48.8% ± 34.5%, and 56.5% ± 29.9%, respectively. The percentage of patients evaluated as candidates for isotretinoin by independent photographic review was 77% (69/90) at baseline and only 16% (14/90) at week 12. Treatment-related adverse events (AEs) occurred in eight of 97 (8%) patients. Triplecombination therapy was not associated with any serious AEs or AEs leading to discontinuation.<BR>
Conclusion: Triple-combination therapy was well tolerated and substantially reduced facial acne lesion counts, with 84% of patients judged to no longer be candidates for isotretinoin therapy by study end. These data support the clinical observation that a triple-combination regimen incorporating oral minocycline (dosed by patient weight), BP foaming cloths 6% QD, and clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/ tretinoin 0.025% gel QD can substantially improve moderate to severe acne vulgaris.