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A Case of Melanosis Duodeni in Which Pigmentation Disappeared After the Discontinuation of Hydralazine Administration
Author(s) -
WADA Satoshi,
FUJIKAWA Harunobu,
HORIKITA Minoru,
HIBINO Shingo,
OKAHISA Toshiya,
OKAMURA Seisuke,
HAYASHI Hiroshige,
HONDA Hirohito,
SAIJO Tetsuya,
YANO Mitsuyasu,
SYUNDO Joji,
SHIMIZU Ichiro,
ITO Susumu,
SANO Toshiaki
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
digestive endoscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.5
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1443-1661
pISSN - 0915-5635
DOI - 10.1111/j.1443-1661.1991.tb00331.x
Subject(s) - medicine , duodenum , discontinuation , melanosis , hydralazine , gastroenterology , anemia , dermatology , melanoma , cancer research , blood pressure
The endoscopic examination of the duodenum of a 70‐year‐old man who had received hydralazine for a long period showed a marked pigmentation of the duodenal mucosa. However, this pigmentation disappeared within three months after the discontinuation of hydralazine administration. Histological and electron microscopic examinations, as well as electron‐probe X‐ray analysis of this patient demonstrated that the pigment was not true melanin, but some substance containing Fe and S. The medications which our patient received were those which were also used in 54 cases reported in the literature. Our results indicated that hydralazine was the causative agent of the pigmentation present in this patient, and that not all drugs with a benzene ring as was previously thought were the cause of the pigmentation. Hypertension, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, renal insufficiency and anemia also seemed to be factors involved in pigmentation of the duodenum.