Minocycline and Lupuslike Syndrome in Acne Patients

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Abstract
MINOCYCLINE IS a semisynthetic tetracycline antibiotic that is used to treat infections caused by several types of gram-positive and gram-negative bacterias, Rickettsia, Chlamydia, and Mycoplasma species. It became available in 1972 and has been widely used since then. Its long half-life, allowing for once- or twice-daily dosing, and the suggestion that minocyline rarely causes resistance makes it popular with both patients and physicians.1-4 Tetracyclines are used orally in the treatment of moderate to severe inflammatory acne vulgaris and other infections sensitive to the actions of tetracylines. Because of its favorable dosing characteristics and the low rate of resistance, minocycline is now the most widely prescribed antibiotic for acne.1 An estimated 800,000 prescriptions were written in 1993 in the United Kingdom,1 and 65% of oral minocycline use in the United States was for treatment of acne.5