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document
Efficacy of topical azithromycin ophthalmic solution 1 % in the treatment of posterior blepharitis . INTRODUCTION Azithromycin , a broad-spectrum antibiotic with potent anti-inflammatory activities , has the potential to effectively treat blepharitis , an inflammatory disease of the eyelid with abnormal eyelid flora as an etiologic determinant . The present study compared the efficacy of topical azithromycin ophthalmic solution 1 % ( AzaSite ; Inspire Pharmaceuticals , Inc , NC , USA ) combined with warm compresses ( azithromycin group ) to warm compresses alone ( compress group ) in patients with posterior blepharitis . METHODS Twenty-one patients diagnosed with posterior blepharitis were randomized in an open-label study to receive either azithromycin plus warm compresses ( 10 patients ) , or compresses alone ( 11 patients ) . All patients were instructed to apply compresses to each eye for 5-10 minutes twice daily for 14 days . Each eye in the azithromycin group also received azithromycin solution ( 1 drop ) twice daily for the first 2 days followed by once daily for the next 12 days . Patients were evaluated at study initiation ( visit 1 ) and at end of treatment ( visit 2 ) for the severity of five clinical signs : eyelid debris , eyelid redness , eyelid swelling , meibomian gland ( MG ) plugging , and the quality of MG secretion . At visit 2 , patients also rated their degree of overall symptomatic relief . RESULTS Twenty patients completed the study . At visit 2 , patients in the azithromycin group demonstrated significant improvements in MG plugging , MG secretions , and eyelid redness as compared with the compress group . In the azithromycin group , MG plugging resolved completely in three patients and MG secretion returned to normal in two patients ; no such results were seen in the compress group . Furthermore , a higher percentage of patients in the azithromycin group rated overall symptomatic relief as excellent or good . Visual acuity measurements and biomicroscopic evaluation revealed no ocular safety issues . CONCLUSION Azithromycin ophthalmic solution in combination with warm compresses provided a significantly greater clinical benefit than warm compresses alone in treating the signs and symptoms of posterior blepharitis .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
azithromycin
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Intervention_Pharmacological
Azithromycin
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Intervention_Pharmacological
azithromycin
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Intervention_Pharmacological
azithromycin
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Intervention_Pharmacological
warm compresses
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Intervention_Pharmacological
azithromycin
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Intervention_Pharmacological
azithromycin
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Intervention_Pharmacological
azithromycin
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Intervention_Pharmacological
Azithromycin
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Outcome_Other
Efficacy
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Outcome_Physical
blepharitis
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Outcome_Physical
eyelid debris
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Outcome_Physical
eyelid redness
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Outcome_Physical
eyelid swelling
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Outcome_Physical
meibomian gland ( MG ) plugging
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Outcome_Physical
quality of MG secretion
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Outcome_Other
overall symptomatic relief
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Outcome_Mental
significant improvements
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Outcome_Physical
MG plugging
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Outcome_Physical
MG secretions
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Outcome_Physical
eyelid redness
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Outcome_Physical
MG plugging
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Outcome_Physical
MG secretion returned to normal
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Outcome_Physical
overall symptomatic relief
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Outcome_Physical
signs and symptoms of posterior blepharitis
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Participant_Condition
posterior blepharitis
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Participant_Condition
blepharitis
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Participant_Condition
inflammatory disease
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Participant_Sample-size
Twenty-one
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Participant_Condition
posterior blepharitis
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Participant_Sample-size
Twenty