oxytetracycline--anhydrous and Esophageal-Diseases

Medication with oral drugs has not been considered as a cause of esophageal lesions in the general literature of esophageal disease. This study demonstrates 40 patients with complaints of sudden onset of intense retrosternal pains and odynophagia during treatment with oral tetracyclines. All patients had distinct circumferential ulcers in the esophagus. Medical history, barium swallows, esophagoscopy, biopsies and esophageal manometry revealed no other apparent etiology but a local corrosive effect of the tetracyclines. Experimental tests on the esophagus of the cat verified a severe local corrosive effect of the tetracyclines. Another tetracycline, lymecycline, not reported previously to induce esophageal lesions in man, was significantly less ulcerogenic than doxycycline and oxytetracycline. Drug induced esophageal ulcerations are likely to be more numerous than previously suspected. The experimental model used appears to be sound for investigating ulcerogenic potentials of orally administered drugs.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Cats; Deglutition Disorders; Doxycycline; Esophageal Diseases; Esophagus; Humans; Lymecycline; Oxytetracycline; Tetracyclines; Ulcer

Topics: Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Capsules; Esophageal Diseases; Female; Humans; Oxytetracycline; Ulcer

On the basis of 3 observations the author deals with acute ulcers in the oesophagus after oral application of oxytetracycline capsules. Sudden retrosternal pains, beginning in most cases during night, are in the foreground of the clinical picture. Discontinuation of the medicament and prescription of an antacid lead to the regression of the ulcer. For the development of such ulcers probably several factors play a role (pH-changes disturbances of motility and cytolysis). Oxytetracycline capsules should be taken always with abundant fluid and not immediately before bedtime.

Topics: Bronchitis; Cholangitis; Esophageal Diseases; Oxytetracycline; Tracheitis; Ulcer

Topics: Adult; Aminopyrine; Dipyrone; Esophageal Diseases; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Oxytetracycline; Penicillin V; Tetracycline; Ulcer