Evidence Table MULTI.3. DISCRETE Outcomes of MULTI-ARM Trials.

Trial Discrete Outcome Name (Units)

Comments re Between P-value

Between 

P-value

Follow Treatment

up

Overall change/investigator

improved 31

Same 14

worse 3

97 Benzoyl peroxide

P Mild/mod

È Short (4)

Overall change/investigator

improved 35

Same 11

worse 2

Benzoyl peroxide + 

chlorhydroxyquinoline

97

P Mild/mod

È Short (4)

Overall change/investigator

improved 16

Same 18

worse 15

97 Vehicle

P Mild/mod

È Short (4)

Discontinuation due to side effects

discontinued 0

119 Adapalene

P s 

È Short (3)

Discontinuation due to side effects

discontinued 1

119 Petrolatum

P s 

È Short (3)

Discontinuation due to side effects

discontinued 16

119 Tretinoin (0.01% gel)

P s 

È Short (3)

Discontinuation due to side effects

discontinued 5

119 Tretinoin (0.025% cream)

P s 

È Short (3)

Discontinuation due to side effects

discontinued 18

119 Tretinoin (0.025% gel)

P s 

È Short (3)

Discontinuation due to side effects

discontinued 13

119 Tretinoin (0.05% cream)

P s 

È Short (3)

Discontinuation due to side effects

discontinued 25

119 Tretinoin (0.1% cream)

P s 

È Short (3)

Discontinuation due to side effects

discontinued 0

120 Adapalene

P s 

È Short (3)

Discontinuation due to side effects

discontinued 0

120 Petrolatum

P s 

È Short (3)

Discontinuation due to side effects

discontinued 7

120 Tretinoin (0 .1% cream)

P s 

È Short (3)

Discontinuation due to side effects

discontinued 0

120 Tretinoin (0.025% cream)

P s 

È Short (3)

Discontinuation due to side effects

discontinued 3

120 Tretinoin (0.05% cream)

P s 

È Short (3)

Discontinuation due to side effects

discontinued 2

120 Tretinoin (0.1% gel)

P s 

È Short (3)

Overall change

worse 1

No change 4

better 1

132 Placebo

P Sev

È Mid (12)

Table MULTI.3 DISCRETE Page 1 of 11

ÈÍ refer to the presence of positive or negative methodological features (see Summary Table). "mild/mod," etc., refer to our assessment of entry severity of 

study patients. "P" refers to parallel study, "S," to split face design. BETWEEN P-value indicates a comparison among arms of the study.
Trial Discrete Outcome Name (Units)

Comments re Between P-value

Between 

P-value

Follow Treatment

up

Overall change

worse 0

No change 3

better 2

132 Spironolactone (100)

P Sev

È Mid (12)

Overall change

worse 0

No change 2

better 4

132 Spironolactone (150)

P Sev

È Mid (12)

Overall change

worse 0

No change 1

better 3

132 Spironolactone (200)

P Sev

È Mid (12)

Overall change

worse 0

No change 4

better 1

132 Spironolactone (50)

P Sev

È Mid (12)

Overall change/patient

worse 1

No change 4

better 1

132 Placebo

P Sev

È Mid (12)

Overall change/patient

worse 0

No change 1

better 4

132 Spironolactone (100)

P Sev

È Mid (12)

Overall change/patient

worse 0

No change 1

better 5

132 Spironolactone (150)

P Sev

È Mid (12)

Overall change/patient

worse 0

No change 0

better 4

132 Spironolactone (200)

P Sev

È Mid (12)

Overall change/patient

worse 1

No change 2

better 2

132 Spironolactone (50)

P Sev

È Mid (12)

Overall change/photo

worse 3

No change 2

better 1

132 Placebo

P Sev

È Mid (12)

Overall change/photo

worse 1

No change 1

better 3

132 Spironolactone (100)

P Sev

È Mid (12)

Overall change/photo

worse 0

No change 1

better 5

132 Spironolactone (150)

P Sev

È Mid (12)

Table MULTI.3 DISCRETE Page 2 of 11

ÈÍ refer to the presence of positive or negative methodological features (see Summary Table). "mild/mod," etc., refer to our assessment of entry severity of 

study patients. "P" refers to parallel study, "S," to split face design. BETWEEN P-value indicates a comparison among arms of the study.
Trial Discrete Outcome Name (Units)

Comments re Between P-value

Between 

P-value

Follow Treatment

up

Overall change/photo

worse 1

No change 0

better 3

132 Spironolactone (200)

P Sev

È Mid (12)

Overall change/photo

worse 1

No change 1

better 3

132 Spironolactone (50)

P Sev

È Mid (12)

Inflammatory changes (Witkowski 

discretized %)

Excellent (>75%) 18 NS

Good (>50%) 10

Moderate + Poor (>0%) 3

149 Benzoyl peroxide (10%)

P 

Mild/mod/se

v

Í Mid (10)

Inflammatory changes (Witkowski 

discretized %)

Excellent (>75%) 20 NS

Good (>50%) 14

Moderate + Poor (>0%) 6

149 Benzoyl peroxide (5%)

P 

Mild/mod/se

v

Í Mid (10)

Inflammatory changes (Witkowski 

discretized %)

Excellent (>75%) 23 NS

Good (>50%) 4

Moderate + Poor (>0%) 4

149 Tretinoin

P 

Mild/mod/se

v

Í Mid (10)

Non-inflammatory change (Witkowski 

discretized %)

Excellent (>75%) 25

Good (>50%) 8

Moderate + Poor (>0%) 1

149 Benzoyl peroxide (10%)

P 

Mild/mod/se

v

Í Mid (10)

Non-inflammatory change (Witkowski 

discretized %)

Excellent (>75%) 27

Good (>50%) 10

Moderate + Poor (>0%) 4

149 Benzoyl peroxide (5%)

P 

Mild/mod/se

v

Í Mid (10)

Non-inflammatory change (Witkowski 

discretized %)

Excellent (>75%) 32

Good (>50%) 2

Moderate + Poor (>0%) 2

149 Tretinoin

P 

Mild/mod/se

v

Í Mid (10)

Overall change (Witkowski 

discretized %)

Excellent (>75%) 26 NS

Good (>50%) 7

Moderate + Poor (>0%) 1

149 Benzoyl peroxide (10%)

P 

Mild/mod/se

v

Í Mid (10)

Overall change (Witkowski 

discretized %)

Excellent (>75%) 28 NS

Good (>50%) 9

Moderate + Poor (>0%) 4

149 Benzoyl peroxide (5%)

P 

Mild/mod/se

v

Í Mid (10)

Table MULTI.3 DISCRETE Page 3 of 11

ÈÍ refer to the presence of positive or negative methodological features (see Summary Table). "mild/mod," etc., refer to our assessment of entry severity of 

study patients. "P" refers to parallel study, "S," to split face design. BETWEEN P-value indicates a comparison among arms of the study.
Trial Discrete Outcome Name (Units)

Comments re Between P-value

Between 

P-value

Follow Treatment

up

Overall change (Witkowski 

discretized %)

Excellent (>75%) 32 0.01

Good (>50%) 2

Moderate + Poor (>0%) 2

149 Tretinoin

P 

Mild/mod/se

v

Í Mid (10)

Side effects/Withdrawal

Allergy 1 0.05

Severe irritation reaction 12

Toxic reation 0

149 Benzoyl peroxide (10%)

P 

Mild/mod/se

v

Í Mid (10)

Side effects/Withdrawal

Allergy 1 0.05

Severe irritation reaction 12

Toxic reation 0

149 Benzoyl peroxide (10%)

P 

Mild/mod/se

v

Í Mid (10)

Side effects/Withdrawal

Allergy 2 0.05

Severe irritation reaction 2

Toxic reation 0

149 Benzoyl peroxide (5%)

P 

Mild/mod/se

v

Í Mid (10)

Side effects/Withdrawal

Allergy 2 0.05

Severe irritation reaction 2

Toxic reation 0

149 Benzoyl peroxide (5%)

P 

Mild/mod/se

v

Í Mid (10)

Side effects/Withdrawal

Allergy 0 0.05

Severe irritation reaction 11

Toxic reaction 0

149 Tretinoin

P 

Mild/mod/se

v

Í Mid (10)

Side effects/Withdrawal

Allergy 0 0.05

Severe irritation reaction 11

Toxic reaction 0

149 Tretinoin

P 

Mild/mod/se

v

Í Mid (10)

Clinical assessed facial lesions

resolved 4

Much better 8

better 6

same 3

worse 2

177 Benzoyl peroxide

P 

È Mid (12)

Clinical assessed facial lesions

resolved 6

Much better 11

better 2

same 1

177 Hydroxyquinoline + benzoyl peroxide

P 

È Mid (12)

Clinical assessed facial lesions

resolved 4

Much better 10

better 4

same 6

worse 1

177 Vehicle

P 

È Mid (12)

Table MULTI.3 DISCRETE Page 4 of 11

ÈÍ refer to the presence of positive or negative methodological features (see Summary Table). "mild/mod," etc., refer to our assessment of entry severity of 

study patients. "P" refers to parallel study, "S," to split face design. BETWEEN P-value indicates a comparison among arms of the study.
Trial Discrete Outcome Name (Units)

Comments re Between P-value

Between 

P-value

Follow Treatment

up

Clinical assessment back lesions

resolved 2

Much better 2

better 5

same 4

worse 

177 Benzoyl peroxide

P 

È Mid (12)

Clinical assessment back lesions

resolved 4

Much better 4

better 5

same 3

177 Hydroxyquinoline + benzoyl peroxide

P 

È Mid (12)

Clinical assessment back lesions

resolved 3

Much better 3

better 4

same 4

177 Vehicle

P 

È Mid (12)

Clinical assessment chest lesions

resolved 1

Much better 4

better 3

same 3

177 Benzoyl peroxide

P 

È Mid (12)

Clinical assessment chest lesions

resolved 2

Much better 3

better 3

same 2

177 Hydroxyquinoline + benzoyl peroxide

P 

È Mid (12)

Clinical assessment chest lesions

resolved 3

Much better 2

better 3

same 3

177 Vehicle

P 

È Mid (12)

Greasiness

absent 7

Slight 13

moderate 4

marked 

177 Benzoyl peroxide

P 

È

Greasiness

absent 10

Slight 10

moderate 1

marked 1

177 Hydroxyquinoline + benzoyl peroxide

P 

È

Greasiness

absent 7

Slight 15

moderate 6

marked 

177 Vehicle

P 

È

Table MULTI.3 DISCRETE Page 5 of 11

ÈÍ refer to the presence of positive or negative methodological features (see Summary Table). "mild/mod," etc., refer to our assessment of entry severity of 

study patients. "P" refers to parallel study, "S," to split face design. BETWEEN P-value indicates a comparison among arms of the study.
Trial Discrete Outcome Name (Units)

Comments re Between P-value

Between 

P-value

Follow Treatment

up

Local side effects

erythema 13 NS

Peeling 19

dryness 7

burning 1

pruritis 2

214 Benzoyl peroxide

P Mod

È Mid (11)

Local side effects

erythema 6 NS

Peeling 7

dryness 5

burning 0

pruritis 1

214 Clindamycin

P Mod

È Mid (11)

Local side effects

erythema 7 NS

Peeling 21

dryness 8

burning 2

pruritis 2

214 Clindamycin + benzoyl peroxide

P Mod

È Mid (11)

Local side effects

erythema 6 NS

Peeling 9

dryness 2

burning 1

pruritis 3

214 Vehicle

P Mod

È Mid (11)

Overall change/physician

excellent or good 38 0.01

Good, fair or worse 54

214 Benzoyl peroxide

P Mod

È Mid (11)

Overall change/physician

excellent or good 32 0.01

Good, fair or worse 57

214 Clindamycin

P Mod

È Mid (11)

Overall change/physician

excellent or good 63 0.01

Good, fair or worse 32

214 Clindamycin + benzoyl peroxide

P Mod

È Mid (11)

Overall change/physician

excellent or good 6 NS

Good, fair or worse 52

214 Vehicle

P Mod

È Mid (11)

Side effects

dry skin 0

233 Vehicle

P Mod/sev

È Mid (12)

Side effects

dry skin 0

233 Vitamin A palmitate

P Mod/sev

È Mid (12)

Side effects

dry skin 4

233 Zinc sulfate

P Mod/sev

È Mid (12)

Side effects

dry skin 4

233 Zinc sulfate + Vitamin A palmitate

P Mod/sev

È Mid (12)

Table MULTI.3 DISCRETE Page 6 of 11

ÈÍ refer to the presence of positive or negative methodological features (see Summary Table). "mild/mod," etc., refer to our assessment of entry severity of 

study patients. "P" refers to parallel study, "S," to split face design. BETWEEN P-value indicates a comparison among arms of the study.
Trial Discrete Outcome Name (Units)

Comments re Between P-value

Between 

P-value

Follow Treatment

up

Overall change/physician

excellent (75% or greater) 1

Good (50-74%) 8

fair (25-49%) 7

poor (<24%) 4

238 Erythromycin

P Mod/sev

Í Mid (8)

Overall change/physician

excellent (75% or greater) 5

Good (50-74%) 10

fair (25-49%) 5

poor (<24%) 0

238 Erythromycin + tretinoin

P Mod/sev

Í Mid (8)

Overall change/physician

excellent (75% or greater) 5

Good (50-74%) 5

fair (25-49%) 6

poor (<24%) 4

238 Tretinoin

P Mod/sev

Í Mid (8)

Overall change/physician

excellent (75% or greater) 0

Good (50-74%) 2

fair (25-49%) 6

poor (<24%) 12

238 Vehicle

P Mod/sev

Í Mid (8)

Overall change/physician

improved 14

Unimproved 10

287 Hydrocortisone

P 

Í Long (16

Overall change/physician

improved 10

Unimproved 10

287 Neomycin

P 

Í Long (16

Overall change/physician

improved 17

Unimproved 7

287 Resorcinol

P 

Í Long (16

Overall change/physician

improved 21

Unimproved 11

Resorcinol + neomycin + 

hydrocortisone F + sulfur

287

P 

Í Long (16

Overall change/physician

improved 11

Unimproved 12

287 Sulfur

P 

Í Long (16

Overall change/physician

improved 14

Unimproved 12

287 Vehicle

P 

Í Long (16

Side effects

itching/erythema 2

287 Hydrocortisone

P 

Í Long (16

Side effects

itching/erythema 0

287 Neomycin

P 

Í Long (16

Side effects

itching/erythema 3

287 Resorcinol

P 

Í Long (16

Table MULTI.3 DISCRETE Page 7 of 11

ÈÍ refer to the presence of positive or negative methodological features (see Summary Table). "mild/mod," etc., refer to our assessment of entry severity of 

study patients. "P" refers to parallel study, "S," to split face design. BETWEEN P-value indicates a comparison among arms of the study.
Trial Discrete Outcome Name (Units)

Comments re Between P-value

Between 

P-value

Follow Treatment

up

Side effects

itching/erythema 2

Resorcinol + neomycin + 

hydrocortisone F + sulfur

287

P 

Í Long (16

Side effects

itching/erythema 5

287 Sulfur

P 

Í Long (16

Side effects

itching/erythema 2

287 Vehicle

P 

Í Long (16

Overall change/physician

improved 11

Unimproved 10

288 Hydrocortisone

P 

Í Long (16

Overall change/physician

improved 14

Unimproved 10

288 Hydrocortisone + sulfur

P 

Í Long (16

Overall change/physician

improved 12

Unimproved 12

288 Neomycin

P 

Í Long (16

Overall change/physician

improved 12

Unimproved 11

Neomycin + resorcinol + hydrocortisone 

+ sulfur

288

P 

Í Long (16

Overall change/physician

improved 12

Unimproved 11

288 Neomycin + sulfur

P 

Í Long (16

Overall change/physician

improved 12

Unimproved 13

288 Resorcinol

P 

Í Long (16

Overall change/physician

improved 12

Unimproved 11

288 Sulfur

P 

Í Long (16

Overall change/physician

improved 12

Unimproved 13

288 Vehicle

P 

Í Long (16

Side effects

itching/eythema 0

288 Hydrocortisone

P 

Í Long (16

Side effects

itching/erythema 2

288 Hydrocortisone + sulfur

P 

Í Long (16

Side effects

itching/erythema 3

288 Neomycin

P 

Í Long (16

Side effects

itching/erythema 1

Neomycin + resorcinol + hydrocortisone 

+ sulfur

288

P 

Í Long (16

Side effects

itching/erythema 2

288 Neomycin + sulfur

P 

Í Long (16

Side effects

itching/erythema 3

288 Resorcinol

P 

Í Long (16

Table MULTI.3 DISCRETE Page 8 of 11

ÈÍ refer to the presence of positive or negative methodological features (see Summary Table). "mild/mod," etc., refer to our assessment of entry severity of 

study patients. "P" refers to parallel study, "S," to split face design. BETWEEN P-value indicates a comparison among arms of the study.
Trial Discrete Outcome Name (Units)

Comments re Between P-value

Between 

P-value

Follow Treatment

up

Side effects

itching/erythema 3

288 Sulfur

P 

Í Long (16

Side effects

itching/erythema 0

288 Vehicle

P 

Í Long (16

Acne flare-up

left study 1

No flare-up 19

302 Tretinoin (0.01%)

P s Mild

Í

Acne flare-up

left study 3

No flare-up 17

302 Tretinoin combined

P s Mild

Í

Inter-treatment severity comparison

more effective than placebo 5

340 Erythromycin proprionate

P Mod/sev

È

Inter-treatment severity comparison

more effective than placebo 8

340 Erythromycin stearate

P Mod/sev

È

Inter-treatment severity comparison

more effective than placebo 5

340 Placebo

P Mod/sev

È

Inter-treatment severity comparison

more effective than placebo 13

340 Tetracycline phosphate

P Mod/sev

È

Inter-treatment severity comparison

more effective than placebo 13

340 Tetracycline-citric acid

P Mod/sev

È

Inter-treatment severity comparison

more effective than placebo 3

340 Tetracycline-novobiocin

P Mod/sev

È

Inter-treatment severity comparison

more effective than placebo 12

340 Triacetyl-oleandomycin

P Mod/sev

È

Improvement

> 50% improvement 21

0-50% improvement 58

Worsening 21

349 Ibuprofen + placebo

P Mild/mod

Í Mid (8)

Improvement

> 50% improvement 12

0-50% improvement 68

Worsening 20

349 Placebo

P Mild/mod

Í Mid (8)

Improvement

> 50% improvement 25

0-50% improvement 55

Worsening 20

349 Tetracycline + placebo

P Mild/mod

Í Mid (8)

Side effects overall

Withdrawal 1

Some symptoms 3

No symptoms 12

349 Ibuprofen + placebo

P Mild/mod

Í

Side effects overall

Withdrawal 1

Some symptoms 2

No symptoms 15

349 Placebo

P Mild/mod

Í

Table MULTI.3 DISCRETE Page 9 of 11

ÈÍ refer to the presence of positive or negative methodological features (see Summary Table). "mild/mod," etc., refer to our assessment of entry severity of 

study patients. "P" refers to parallel study, "S," to split face design. BETWEEN P-value indicates a comparison among arms of the study.
Trial Discrete Outcome Name (Units)

Comments re Between P-value

Between 

P-value

Follow Treatment

up

Side effects overall

Withdrawal 1

Some symptoms 6

No symptoms 10

349 Tetracycline + placebo

P Mild/mod

Í

Side effects specific

Nausea 1

Vomiting 1

Diarrhea 1

Cramps/fullness 2

Other 1

349 Ibuprofen + placebo

P Mild/mod

Í

Side effects specific

Nausea 1

Vomiting 1

Diarrhea 1

Cramps/fullness 0

Other 0

349 Placebo

P Mild/mod

Í

Side effects specific

Nausea 2

Vomiting 1

Diarrhea 0

Cramps/fullness 4

Other 1

349 Tetracycline + placebo

P Mild/mod

Í

Overall change/patient [acne 

conglobata]

improved 17

Worse 8

350 Grenz ray + hexachlorophene

P s Sev

È Long (24

Overall change/patient [acne 

conglobata]

improved 17

Worse 8

350 Sham rays + hexachlorophene

P s Sev

È Long (24

Overall change/patient [acne vulgaris]

yes 38

No 7

350 Grenz ray + hexachlorophene

P s Sev

È Long (24

Overall change/patient [acne vulgaris]

yes 4

No 19

350 Grenz rays

P s Sev

È Long (24

Overall change/patient [acne vulgaris]

yes 38

No 7

350 Sham rays + hexachlorophene

P s Sev

È Long (24

Overall change/patient [acne vulgaris]

yes 4

No 19

350 Untreated

P s Sev

È Long (24

Pigmentation

mentioned 55

Not mentioned 11

350 Grenz ray + hexachlorophene

P s Sev

È Long (24

Pigmentation

mentioned 55

Not mentioned 11

350 Sham rays + hexachlorophene

P s Sev

È Long (24

Table MULTI.3 DISCRETE Page 10 of 11

ÈÍ refer to the presence of positive or negative methodological features (see Summary Table). "mild/mod," etc., refer to our assessment of entry severity of 

study patients. "P" refers to parallel study, "S," to split face design. BETWEEN P-value indicates a comparison among arms of the study.
Trial Discrete Outcome Name (Units)

Comments re Between P-value

Between 

P-value

Follow Treatment

up

Severity change/patient-treated side 

[acne vulgaris]

treatment side better 19

Placebo side better 26

no change 0

350 Grenz ray + hexachlorophene

P s Sev

È Long (24

Severity change/patient-treated side 

[acne vulgaris]

treatment side better 9

Placebo side better 11

no change 5

350 Grenz rays

P s Sev

È Long (24

Severity change/patient-treated side 

[acne vulgaris]

treatment side better 19

Placebo side better 26

no change 

350 Sham rays + hexachlorophene

P s Sev

È Long (24

Severity change/patient-treated side 

[acne vulgaris]

treatment side better 9

Placebo side better 11

no change 5

350 Untreated

P s Sev

È Long (24

Table MULTI.3 DISCRETE Page 11 of 11

ÈÍ refer to the presence of positive or negative methodological features (see Summary Table). "mild/mod," etc., refer to our assessment of entry severity of 

study patients. "P" refers to parallel study, "S," to split face design. BETWEEN P-value indicates a comparison among arms of the study.