Esophageal ulceration complicating doxycycline therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To report present state of iatrogenic drug-induced esophageal injury (DIEI) induced by medications in a private clinic.


METHODS
Iatrogenic drug-induced esophageal injury (DIEI) induced by medications has been more frequently reported. In a private clinic we encountered 36 cases of esophageal ulcerations complicating doxycycline therapy in a mainly younger Saudi population (median age 29 years).


RESULTS
The most frequent presenting symptoms were odynophagia, retrosternal burning pain and dysphagia (94 %, 75 % and 56 %, respectively). The diagnosis was according to medical history and confirmed by endoscopy in all patients. Beside withdrawal of doxycycline, when feasible, all patients were treated with a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) and a prokinetic. Thirty patients who reported to the clinic after treatment were improved within 1-7 (median 1.7) days.


CONCLUSIONS
Esophageal ulceration has to be suspected in younger patients with odynophagia, retrosternal burning pain and/or dysphagia during the treatment with doxycycline.
Al-Mofarreh
Mohammad A
MA
Physician & Gastroenterology Poly Clinic, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Al Mofleh
Ibrahim A
IA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014456:Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced*
D004318:Doxycycline