[The effectiveness of tetracycline in the treatment of rosacea associated with epithelioid granulomas].

The results of the oxytetracycline therapy given orally to 26 patients with severe papulopustular rosacea are presented. The biopsies were taken at the most typical sites. In 19 out of 26 patients the pathological changes characteristic of papulopustular rosacea were found. In 7 out of 26 patients epitheloid granulomas without central caseation were histologically observed. In these 7 patients tuberculosis was excluded (the absence of other tuberculous stigmata, normal laboratory data). Tetracycline (oxytetracycline) was given orally to 26 patients. One month later, a remarkable clinical improvement could be seen, i.e. the papules and pustules disappeared in all 26 patients and the recurrence of the disease could not be noticed in any patient during a 2.5-year-observation period. As no signs of tuberculosis could be detected in these patients, the authors believe that rosaceiform changes with epitheloid granulomas should be systematized in rosacea as "rosacea-like eruptions". A good therapeutic response of "rosacea-like eruptions" to tetracyclines could possibly confirm the authors' hypothesis.