Azithromycin treatment of drug induced gingival hyperplasia in renal transplant patients

Abstract

Objectives: was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of azithromycin therapy inreducing drug-induced gingival hyperplasia as an adjunctive therapy in renaltransplant patients (RTP) under cyclosporine (CsA) and those under tacrolimus(Tac) therapyMaterial & Methods: Seventy five kidney transplant recipients (48men, 27 women) diagnosed to have early to moderate gingival overgrowth withstable allograft function entered the study. These patients had been takingeither CsA or Tac for more than 6 months .The patients were randomized equallyinto three groups. Two groups had received 500-mg azithromycin for 5-days givenat baseline only. While the control group received placebo in addition to theoral hygiene program .The clinical periodontal parameters were assessed and includethe plaque index, bleeding on probing index, the gingival overgrowth index, andthe probing depth. They were evaluated at the baseline and at flow up time (1,3, 6 months)Results: At the baseline time all groups were similar in the clinical parameterswith no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). At follow up timeintervals all groups showed improvement over baseline measurements however bothgroups who received AZI showed more favorable results manifested by reductionof gingival bleeding and the depth of gingival sulcus .However, thisimprovement was more in the (CsA) group than the (Tac) group and the differencewas statistically significant (P≥ 0.05)Conclusions: Azithromycin is an effective therapeutic tool in the management ofdrug-induced gingival overgrowth as it is conservative, well tolerated, andrapidly effective with minimal side effects; especially in renal transplantpatients under cyclosporine therapy.