Effect of spiramycin therapy on human periodontal disease

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of spiramycin on subgingival microflora and periodontal tissues in 10 patients, divided into 2 groups of 5 patients each, with 14 sites studied in each group. The 28 sites were examined at baseline, immediately before drug or placebo intake and then 2 and 4 weeks later. The assessment included oral hygiene status, gingival conditions, bleeding on probing, crevicular fluid and morphotype count by darkfield microscopy. On a double blind basis, patients received, at random, placebo (control group) or spiramycin (test group) 3 g the first day and 2 g daily during a fortnight. In the test group, results at 2 wk examination showed a statistically significant increase (p<0.05) in coccoid cells, and reduction of motile rods and spirochetes, as well as pocket depth decrease. Plaque Index, Gingival Index and Crevicular Fluid only changed at 4 wk examination. No changes were recorded for the control group. The above improvements were maintained up to 15 d following drug administration. The authors suggest that spiramycin could be used profitably as an adjunct to mechanical therapy in reducing the periodontopathic flora.