ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Tetracycline is an antibiotic which has been proven beneficial as an immunomodulating drug in the treatment of autoimmune bullous diseases. METHODS: Thirteen hospitalized patients with pempigus vulgaris received tetracycline 2 g/day for 1 month, then 1 g/day for the following 4 weeks. Prednisone 0.5-1 mg/kg/day was then gradually reduced. The control group consisted of seven patients with pemphigus who had received prednisone and azathioprine. RESULTS: A total of 13 patients in the study group achieved cessation of new blister formation within 5.4 days, compared to 23.71 days (p < 0.0001). The average initial dose of prednisone was 76.53 mg/day for the study group and 118.57 mg/day in the control group (p < 0.014). The average number of days before reduction of the prednisone dosage could begin was 16.53 days for the study group compared to 31.28 days in the control (p < 0.049). Total hospitalization time was also significantly lower: 34.07 days (p < 0.001). The clinical response was not linked to the location of lesions nor to severity of disease. CONCLUSIONS: Tetracycline was shown to be effective as an adjuvant therapy for pemphigus with low toxicity and safety.
Subject(s)
Pemphigus/drug therapy , Adult , Anti-Bacterial Agents/adverse effects , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Azathioprine/therapeutic use , Chemotherapy, Adjuvant , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , Gastrointestinal Diseases/chemically induced , Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use , Hospitalization , Humans , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Male , Middle Aged , Pemphigus/pathology , Prednisone/therapeutic use , Severity of Illness Index , Skin/drug effects , Skin/pathology , Tetracycline/adverse effects , Tetracycline/therapeutic use , Time Factors , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Se han estudiado las malformaciones torácicas en cinco gemelos dobles toracópagos del tercer trimestre. No existen alteraciones en cabeza, cuello ni miembros superiores. Estos defectos corresponden a la pared torácica, cuya corrección aparece relativamente fácil. El mayor grado de anormalidad aparece a nivel del corazón y grandes vasos. Corazón único que necesariamente obligaría al sacrificio de uno de los niños al intentar una separación, con muy pocas expectativas de sobrevida a pesar del uso de técnicas quirúrgicas muy avanzadas
