Ann Dermatol.  2014 Feb;26(1):43-52. 10.5021/ad.2014.26.1.43.

Effects of Adapalene-Benzoyl Peroxide Combination Gel in Treatment or Maintenance Therapy of Moderate or Severe Acne Vulgaris: A Meta-Analysis

• Zhou R
• Jiang X

• KMID: 2265696
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2014.26.1.43

Abstract

BACKGROUND
An antibiotic-free, fixed-dose combination gel with adapalene (A) 0.1% and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) 2.5% has been developed for treatment of acne vulgaris.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the clinical outcomes of A-BPO combination gel with vehicle gel for treatment or maintenance therapy of patients with acne vulgaris.
METHODS
An electronic search of the database PubMed (1966 to September 2012), Embase (1984 to September 2012), and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CENTRAL; 3rd Quarter, 2012) was undertaken to identify relevant studies. Main clinical outcomes were success rate, treatment-related adverse events (AEs), AEs leading to discontinuation, satisfaction with the effectiveness, and overall satisfaction.
RESULTS
Six studies were finally included in this meta-analysis. The A-BPO group yielded better clinical outcomes regarding the success rate (p<0.00001), satisfaction with the effectiveness of treatment (p=0.005), and overall satisfaction (p=0.005) compared to the vehicle group. The incidence of treatment-related AEs in the A-BPO group was comparable with that of vehicle group (p=0.09), while the A-BPO group was associated with a slightly increase in the incidence of AEs leading to discontinuation when compared with the vehicle group (p=0.02).
CONCLUSION
A-BPO combination gel yields better clinical outcomes including success rate, satisfaction with the effectiveness, and overall satisfaction compared to vehicle gel, despite an increased incidence of AEs leading to discontinuation. The A-BPO combination agent most likely contributes to the treatment of moderate acne vulgaris rather than severe acne vulgaris, but it may be useful in maintenance therapy of patients with severe acne vulgaris.

Keyword

Acne vulgaris; Adapalene; Benzoyl peroxide; Meta-analysis

MeSH Terms

Acne Vulgaris*
Benzoyl Peroxide
Humans
Incidence
Adapalene
Benzoyl Peroxide

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Flow of study identification, inclusion, and exclusion.

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  Fig. 2 Forest plot of the meta-analysis for success rate. A-BPO: adapalene-benzoyl peroxide, M-H: Mantel-Haenszel, CI: confidence interval.

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  Fig. 3 Forest plot of the meta-analysis for safety outcomes. (A) Treatment-related adverse events. (B) Adverse events leading to discontinuation. A-BPO: adapalene-benzoyl peroxide, M-H: Mantel-Haenszel, CI: confidence interval.

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  Fig. 4 Forest plot of the meta-analysis for satisfaction outcomes. (A) Satisfaction with the effectiveness. (B) Overall satisfaction. A-BPO: adapalene-benzoyl peroxide, M-H: Mantel-Haenszel, CI: confidence interval.

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