Autoimmune hepatitis and lupus syndrome associated with minocycline.

Introduction. - Among several adverse effects following treatment with mino cycline, certain cases of autoimmune hepatitis, associated with lupus eryth ematosus, have been described. The possibility of hepatic damage, although rare, is important to keep in mind because of its delicate diagnostic. Exegesis. - We report one case of autoimmune hepatitis following treatment with minocycline for acne, in a 25-year-old woman. This autoimmune hepatiti s was associated with induced lupus syndrome. Usual causes of hepatitis wer e eliminated. Evolution was spontaneously favorable upon minocycline treatm ent interruption, with the disappearance of clinical symptoms and normaliza tion of hepatic and immunologic biological values. Conclusion. - The possibility of hepatic damage and lupus syndrome, followi ng treatment with minocycline, should be recalled and verified in cases of long-term prescription. This observation stresses the difficulties of anamn esis in internal medicine. For those who know how to listen cautiously and rigorously, anamnesis may prove more helpful than many complementary examin ations. (C) 1999 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.