Bullous Fixed Drug Eruption Caused by Doxycycline

Skinmed. 2018 Jun 1;16(3):202-203. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

A 50-year-old woman presented to our dermatology clinic with pruritic lesions on her hands that had appeared 24 hours earlier. The clinical manifestations had started 24 hours after taking 100 mg of doxycycline for acute bronchitis. She had no history of allergic disease or allergic reactions to drugs. The dermatologic examination revealed multiple erythematous, purplish annular patches with overlying bullae with hemorrhagic content on both palms (Figure 1). The patient had no fever, and the rest of the physical examination did not reveal any abnormalities. Results of laboratory tests were within normal limits. A skin biopsy was performed, showing hydrophic degenerations of the basal membrane, a superficial perivascular infiltrate consisting of lymphocytes and eosinophils, and red blood cells in the dermis (Figure 2). A pharmacovigilance investigation was conducted, and doxycycline was confirmed as the agent responsible for the bullous fixed drug eruption (FDE) in our patient.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects*
  • Doxycycline / adverse effects*
  • Drug Eruptions / diagnosis*
  • Drug Eruptions / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / chemically induced*
  • Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / pathology*
  • Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / therapy

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Doxycycline