[The clinical effectiveness of long-term azithromycin in patients with chronic generalized periodontitis].

The purpose of the study was to compare the clinical response to two regimes of azithromycin use in the complex of non-surgical periodontal therapy. After initial periodontal therapy of chronic generalized periodontitis (CGP), 60 patients were randomly assigned to three groups. In group I patients underwent standard medical care; In group II - patients underwent standard medical care and azithromycin: 500 mg once per day, during 3 days; In group III: 500 mg once per day, during 7 days, followed by 500 mg once per week during 12 weeks. Clinical periodontal indices were recorded before treatment and after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. In group I after 3 months of treatment the clinical effect was lost in 65% of patients. In group III after 12 months clinical effect persisted in 80% of cases. CGP exacerbations frequency was significantly lower in group III compared with group I (χ2=8,03; р=0,0046). The long-term azithromycin at the CGP results in significantly clinical benefit of 80% patients for at least one year and satisfactorily tolerated.