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Skin pigmentation associated with minocycline therapy
Author(s) -
OKADA N.,
MORIYA K.,
NISHIDA K.,
KITANO Y.,
KOBAYASHI T.,
NISHIMURA H.,
AOYAMA M.,
YOSHIKAWA K.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1989.tb01807.x
Subject(s) - minocycline , pathology , dermis , biopsy , ultrastructure , cytoplasm , electron microscope , skin biopsy , medicine , microanalysis , chemistry , dermatology , antibiotics , biochemistry , physics , organic chemistry , optics
SUMMARY A patient on long‐term minocycline therapy developed blue‐black discoloration on the legs. Skin biopsy specimens from the pigmented areas were examined by light and electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray microanalysis. Pigmented granules were present at all levels of the dermis and subcutaneous fat tissues. Ultrastructural examination showed electron‐dense graular material within the cytoplasm of dermal macrophages and energy‐dispersive X‐ray microanalysis indicated that the granules contained iron. Thyroid tissue obtained by aspiration biopsy showed the presence of fine brown granules within the cytoplasm of the follicular epithelial cells. An extract of skin from the pigmented areas was subjected to high performance liquid chromatography and minocycline was detected.