tetracycline and Vasculitis

A case of incomplete mucocutaneous Behçet's disease is presented. In spite of weekly to monthly attacks of genital pain for fifteen years, this diagnostic entity had been ignored. We wish to emphasize that Behçet's disease may be the cause of otherwise unexplained genital erosions. A set of clinical criteria according to an international study group serves to establish the diagnosis. Treatment is controversial. This case has been successfully treated with systemic tetracycline for more than six months.

Topics: Adult; Behcet Syndrome; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Tetracycline; Vagina; Vasculitis

Three patients with retinal vasculitis are reported who were found to be seroreactive for Lyme borreliosis. Careful investigation revealed no other apparent etiology for the angiitis, and improvement of the retinal vasculitis on tetracycline therapy was documented by fluorescein angiography in one of them. Two cases of retinal vasculitis were presented at the International Conference on Lyme Borreliosis in Stockholm 18-21 June 1990, and two cases of cerebral vasculitis due to Borrelia burgdorferi have been published. To our knowledge, this is the first published report of retinal vasculitis occurring in patients seroreactive for Lyme borreliosis. Although further investigation will be necessary to prove a cause-and-effect relationship, ophthalmologists encountering patients with otherwise unexplained cases of retinal vasculitis, or Eales disease, are encouraged to study these patients carefully for the possibility of Borrelia burgdorferi infection.

Topics: Adult; Fluorescein Angiography; Fundus Oculi; Humans; Lyme Disease; Male; Middle Aged; Retinal Vessels; Tetracycline; Vasculitis

A rare, but distinctive chronic eruption in six female black South Africans is reported. The original diagnosis of subcorneal pustular dermatosis of Sneddon and Wilkinson in these patients was refuted by the subsequent histological observation of both spongiform pustules and an underlying vasculitis. This may represent a previously undocumented form of generalized pustular psoriasis.

Topics: Adult; Black People; Child; Dapsone; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Prednisolone; Psoriasis; Retrospective Studies; Skin; South Africa; Tetracycline; Vasculitis

We believe, then, that our patient represents an infrequently reported form of tetracycline toxicity. She developed a picture consistent with multisystem involvement, with a positive ANA test. All of the toxic manifestations were reversed upon withdrawal of the drug.

Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Tetracycline; Vasculitis