We would like to draw attention to serious systemic reactions resembling hypersensitivity that are possibly related to minocycline exposure.
Report of Cases.
Case 1. A 15-year-old boy was admitted with a fever, a diffuse pustular eruption, and enlarged lymph nodes. Biological changes were leukocytosis (46×109/L; eosinophils, 2.8×109/L) and hepatic cytolysis (aspartate aminotransferase, 287 U/L, and alanine aminotransferase, 277 U/L [normal values for both, 10 to 40 U/L]). Tests for causes of eosinophilia showed negative or normal findings, as did the tests for infectious causes. This patient had been receiving minocycline (100 mg/d) for 1 month, and roxithromycin since the onset of fever. An adverse drug reaction was suspected; antibiotics were discontinued. His condition first improved with prednisone (1 mg/kg per day), but a chronic exfoliative lichenoid dermatitis occurred when the dose was reduced. New investigations showed a specific IgM directed against parvovirus B19. The cutaneous lesions