minocycline and Serum-Sickness

To increase awareness of minocycline-induced autoimmune syndromes.. Review of relevant publications from the American and European literature.. Four minocycline-induced syndromes have been described in 82 patients: serum sickness, drug-induced lupus, autoimmune hepatitis, and vasculitis. Aside from sporadic cases of serum sickness, all other syndromes occurred in patients treated for acne. Drug-induced lupus and hepatitis were by far the most common events (66 cases). Except for serum sickness, which presented shortly (mean, 16 days) after minocycline, the autoimmune syndromes manifested after protracted use (mean, 25.3 months). As expected, the patients with acne were young (mean, 19.7 years). The most frequent symptoms were arthralgia, followed by arthritis, fever, and rash (73, 45, 38, and 29 patients, respectively). Serologically, antinuclear antibodies were the most common finding (63 positive of 68 tests); perinuclear anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies (pANCA), when assayed, were similarly frequent (20 of 24 tests). Surprisingly, anti-histone antibodies were uncommon, even among patients with drug-induced lupus (4 of 31 tests). The clinical and serological features of the separate syndromes may overlap. The diagnostic value of pANCA, as well as its possible role in minocycline-induced autoimmunity, are discussed.. Minocycline has the potential to evoke a variety of clinical and serological autoimmune expressions. The number of published reports may underestimate the frequency of this condition, which should be suspected and investigated in young patients with autoimmune manifestations.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; Autoimmune Diseases; Hepatitis, Autoimmune; Humans; Iatrogenic Disease; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Minocycline; Serum Sickness; Vasculitis

Because minocycline can cause serious adverse events including hypersensitivity syndrome reaction (HSR), serum sicknesslike reaction (SSLR), and drug-induced lupus, a follow-up study based on a retrospective review of our Drug Safety Clinic and the Health Protection Branch databases and a literature review was conducted to determine if similar rare events are associated with tetracycline and doxycycline. Cases of isolated single organ dysfunction (SOD) attributable to the use of these antibiotics also were identified.. Nineteen cases of HSR due to minocycline, 2 due to tetracycline, and 1 due to doxycycline were identified. Eleven cases of SSLR due to minocycline, 3 due to tetracycline, and 2 due to doxycycline were identified. All 33 cases of drug-induced lupus were attributable to minocycline. Forty cases of SOD from minocycline, 37 cases from tetracycline, and 6 from doxycycline were detected. Hypersensitivity syndrome reaction, SSLR, and SOD occur on average within 4 weeks of therapy, whereas minocycline-induced lupus occurs on average 2 years after the initiation of therapy.. Early serious events occurring during the course of tetracycline antibiotic treatment include HSR, SSLR, and SOD. Drug-induced lupus, which occurs late in the course of therapy, is reported only with minocycline. We theorize that minocycline metabolism may account for the increased frequency of serious adverse events with this drug.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Arthralgia; Canada; Databases as Topic; Doxycycline; Drug Eruptions; Drug Hypersensitivity; Drug Prescriptions; Female; Fever; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Liver; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Male; Middle Aged; Minocycline; Retrospective Studies; Safety; Serum Sickness; Syndrome; Tetracycline; Time Factors

Minocycline is the most commonly used systemic antibiotic in the long-term treatment (weeks to months) of severe acne vulgaris. Currently much attention is being paid in the Dutch and international literature to the safety of minocycline, after several reports on serious adverse events. The clinical efficacy of minocycline in the treatment of acne vulgaris is better than that of tetracycline and equal to that of doxycycline. The serious adverse events of minocycline therapy described consist of hyperpigmentation of various tissues, autoimmune disorders (systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune hepatitis) and serious hypersensitivity reactions (hypersensitivity syndrome reaction, pneumonitis and eosinophilia, and serum sickness-like syndrome). In relation to the number of prescriptions, the number of serious adverse events of minocycline described is small. However, it is very important that prescribing doctors should be aware of the possibility of these adverse events occurring during long-term minocycline therapy and able to recognize the characteristic symptoms at an early stage.

Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Drug Hypersensitivity; Hepatitis, Autoimmune; Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Minocycline; Pigmentation Disorders; Pulmonary Eosinophilia; Serum Sickness; Syndrome

We report a case of serum sickness-like reaction (SSLR) in a 14-year-old male taking minocycline for acne. The patient presented with urticarial rash, arthralgia/arthritis, and tender lymphadenopathy. Symptoms resolved with discontinuation of minocycline and treatment with prednisone, cetirizine, and ibuprofen. SSLR is a rare complication of minocycline treatment that may go unrecognized and underreported.

Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Adolescent; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Arthralgia; Humans; Male; Minocycline; Serum Sickness

Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Adult; Anti-Allergic Agents; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Diphenhydramine; Epinephrine; Famotidine; Female; Humans; Methylprednisolone; Minocycline; Prednisone; Risk Factors; Serum Sickness; Triamcinolone

Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Adolescent; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Female; Humans; Minocycline; Serum Sickness

Topics: Adolescent; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Drug Eruptions; Humans; Male; Minocycline; Serum Sickness

Topics: Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Minocycline; Serum Sickness; Time Factors

To describe a serum-sickness-like reaction in five adolescents treated with minocycline.. Five adolescents developed a rash and arthralgias/arthritis after taking minocycline for 10-30 days. Symptoms resolved gradually after the medication was stopped.. Serum sickness is not described in the pharmacology literature as an adverse effect of minocycline, and in the English literature there are only two case reports. The migration inhibitory factor assay and mast cell degranulation test were positive in four of the five patients. The results of these assays were consistent with a role for minocycline in causing these reactions.. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of serum-sickness-like reaction as an adverse effect of minocycline.

Topics: Adolescent; Child; Female; Humans; Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; Male; Minocycline; Serum Sickness

A 19 year-old youth was taking oral minocycline and after 8 days he presented all four cardinal symptoms of serum sickness (urticaria, fever, lymphadenopathy and joint symptoms). C3, C4 and CH50 evolution imitate experimental serum sickness complement evolution. We exclude other causes of this syndrome. Although other hypersensitivity reactions have occurred with minocycline usage, to our knowledge serum sickness-like syndrome has not been previously reported with this drug.

Topics: Adult; Drug Hypersensitivity; Humans; Male; Minocycline; Serum Sickness; Syndrome; Tetracyclines; Time Factors