11 CASES OF BULLOUS PEMPHIGOID TREATED WITH A COMBINATION OF MINOCYCLINE AND NICOTINAMIDE

A combination therapy of tetracycline and nicotinamide without systemi c corticosteroid for bullous pemphigoid has recently been reported to be effective without severe adverse effects. Because minocycline can b e administered twice a day, we used minocycline as a substitute for te tracycline. In this study, 11 Japanese patients with bullous pemphigoi d were treated primarily with minocycline and nicotinamide without sys temic corticosteroid. Seven patients achieved complete remission, 3 di d not respond to this therapy, and it was impossible to evaluate 1 pat ient because minocycline was substituted for tetracycline because of v ertigo and pneumonitis. All seven patients who achieved complete remis sion responded within two weeks (6.7 days on average). Pneumonitis, pr obably caused by minocycline, was observed in two patients, and should be considered as one of the side effects of this therapy. In conclusi on, the combination of minocycline and nicotinamide can be regarded as an effective a regimen for bullous pemphigoid patients as a combinati on therapy of tetracycline and nicotinamide.