CONFLUENT AND RETICULATED PAPILLOMATOSIS - SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT WITH MINOCYCLINE

Confluent and reticulated papillomatosis (CRP) is a rare dermatosis of unknown aetiology. Recent electron microscopic studies suggest that C RP is a disorder of keratinisation. In our case we could not confirm t he previously reported ultrastructural findings. CRP is generally resi stant to therapy. We treated a 19-year-old patient with typical CRP wi th oral minocycline. Within a few weeks the eruption resolved complete ly. A mild relapse 7 months later responded promptly to a repeated cou rse of minocycline. Twelve months after discontinuatin of therapy ther e is no evidence of recurrence. In CRP minocycline should be preferred to systemic retinoid therapy because of its minor side effects.