tetracycline and Cheilitis

Thirty patients with treatment-resistant cystic and conglobulate acne entered a randomized double-blind protocol, testing the efficacy of isotretinoin versus tetracycline. After 16 weeks of isotretinoin treatment, the mean number of cysts decreased by 64% and the mean sum of the longest diameters was reduced by 68%. After 16 weeks of tetracycline therapy, the total number of cysts showed a mean decrease of 52%, and the mean sum of the longest diameters decreased by 60%. The reduction in the number of cysts and the sum of their longest diameters that occurred after 16 weeks of treatment was statistically significant for each of the treatment groups, but there was no statistically significant difference between the treatment groups at the end of therapy. Eight weeks after the discontinuation of treatment in the isotretinoin group, there was an overall reduction from baseline of 82% in the cyst count and 88% in the sum of the longest diameters. In the tetracycline treatment group, the overall reduction from baseline in the cyst count was 54% and in the sum of the longest diameters, 60%. This led to a statistically significant difference in the two treatment groups at 24 weeks. All patients on isotretinoin experienced side effects that were primarily related to the integumentary system but necessitated discontinuation of the drug for a short period of time in only one patient. Long-term follow-up, 8 months after discontinuation of the study, showed a prolonged significant remission of acne in the isotretinoin group but not in the tetracycline group.

Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Adolescent; Adult; Cataract; Cheilitis; Clinical Trials as Topic; Double-Blind Method; Epistaxis; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Isomerism; Isotretinoin; Male; Random Allocation; Tetracycline; Tretinoin; Xerophthalmia; Xerostomia

Cheilitis granulomatosa is the most frequent dermatological sign in the Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome. We reviewed 27 cases of this syndrome diagnosed and treated in the last 20 years. All the patients were surgically treated and received intralesional corticosteroids during surgery and tetracycline hydrochloride (500 mg, twice daily) after the operation to prevent recurrence.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Adult; Cheilitis; Cohort Studies; Combined Modality Therapy; Facial Paralysis; Female; Humans; Injections, Intralesional; Male; Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome; Middle Aged; Plastic Surgery Procedures; Postoperative Care; Prognosis; Tetracycline; Tongue Diseases

Actinic prurigo has a high prevalence in women of child-bearing age. Its treatment has been, among others, with thalidomide. To avoid the deleterious effects of this drug on the embryo, therapeutic alternatives have been sought. Among these, tetracycline and vitamin E have been investigated as to their influence on the symptoms of actinic prurigo. Both these drugs affect superoxide radicals that are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of actinic prurigo.. Patients (Chimila Indians with a high prevalence of actinic prurigo) received either (a) tetracycline, 500 mg three times daily, for 6 months, or (b) vitamin E, 100 IU daily, for 6 months. The patients were seen once monthly. There were eight patients in each group.. Both drugs used were effective. Pruritus was remarkably improved by either treatment. None of the side effects were severe enough to lead to interruption of treatment, but the observation period posttreatment was relatively short, 4 months for tetracycline and 2 months for vitamin E. The improvement occurred in spite of the continuation of extensive exposure to the sun.. Tetracycline and vitamin E are efficacious in relieving the pruritus of actinic prurigo. Preliminary trials of a combination treatment with these two drugs is a new avenue which has shown in preliminary trials to yield synergistic effects which might allow the dosage of tetracycline to be reduced.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cheilitis; Colombia; Female; Humans; Indians, South American; Photosensitivity Disorders; Prurigo; Tetracycline; Vitamin E

Strains of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from 360 patients with angular cheilitis. Of these 24 per cent were sensitive to penicillin G, 74 per cent to tetracycline, 93 per cent to fusidic acid and 96 per cent to erythromycin. Twenty per cent belonged to bacteriophage Group I, 9 per cent to Group II, 13 per cent to Group III, 39 percent miscellaneous and 19 per cent were untypable. A number of phage typing patterns which have been reported for strains associated with specific forms of staphylococcal disease were present in the 360 isolates. In investigations involving cross infection of Staph. aureus, both patients and staff should be examined for evidence of infection at the angles of the mouth.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteriophage Typing; Cheilitis; Erythromycin; Female; Fusidic Acid; Humans; Male; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Penicillin G; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus Phages; Tetracycline

Topics: Adult; Aged; Bronchitis; Candidiasis, Oral; Cheilitis; Chronic Disease; Denture, Complete; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Oral Health; Stomatitis; Tetracycline