Muco-cutaneous pigmentation and photosensitization induced by minocycline hydrochloride

Photosensitive rashes and cutaneous pigmentation induced by minocycline hyd rochloride have been reviewed from the cases notified to the French Centres of Pharmacovigilance from 1984 to 1996 (24 cases) and from data available from literature (53 cases). Overall, 77 observations were reported: 13 phot osensitive rashes, 52 skin pigmentations (17 cases of localized pigmentatio n and 35 cases of diffuse pigmentation) and 12 ungual and intraoral pigment ations. Photosensitive rashes occurred mainly among young women (77% of cas es, mean age 31.7 +/- 10.6 years) who had received weak cumulative doses of minocycline hydrochloride (mean 2 +/- 1.32 g). Localized pigmentation main ly affected young women (76.5% of cases, mean age 28.1+/-10.7 years) and ap peared after intake of moderate cumulative doses (mean 35.1+/-29.1 g), wher eas diffuse pigmentation occurred mostly in men (65.7% of cases), with a hi gher mean age (54.9+/-16.1 and distinctly higher years) cumulative doses (m ean 177.9 +/-126.9 g). Pigmentary changes in the nails and mouth occurred i n ten women and two men (mean age 29.4+/-8.7 years) who had absorbed a mean of 101.3+/-114.1 g. The recovery period is variable and is dependent upon the duration of treatment and on the cumulative dose intake. The pigments i nvolved seem to be predominantly minocycline deposits in localized pigmenta tion and iron plus melanin in digguse pigmentation.