Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in rosacea: clinical effectiveness of its eradication
Parodi A
Published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Methodology
Case-control prevalence study with a randomised placebo-controlled rifaximin eradication arm in SIBO-positive rosacea patients, using lactulose breath testing and blinded dermatological assessment over 9 months.
Key Findings
Among 113 rosacea patients, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth was far more prevalent than in controls, and eradication with rifaximin produced complete or near-complete clearing of rosacea skin lesions in most SIBO-positive patients, with remission largely maintained at 9 months; SIBO-negative patients treated with rifaximin showed no such improvement.
Conclusions
In the subset of rosacea patients with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, treating the overgrowth can dramatically clear skin lesions, supporting a gut-skin axis in a defined patient subgroup.
Limitations
Partially non-randomised design with limited blinding, single-centre Italian cohort, lactulose breath testing has imperfect accuracy for SIBO, and results depend on high local SIBO prevalence that may not generalise.
Outcomes Measured
Among 113 rosacea patients, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth was far more prevalent than in controls, and eradication with rifaximin produced complete or near-complete clearing of rosacea skin lesions in most SIBO-positive patients, with remission largely maintained at 9 months; SIBO-negative patients treated with rifaximin showed no such improvement.
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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Disclosures
Funding
Institutional/hospital funding
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