[Tetracycline ulcer of the oesophagus: clinical features and in-vitro studies (author's transl)].

During treatment with doxycycline capsules three patients (aged 24, 34, and 39 years, respectively) developed acute oesophageal ulcers with dysphagia as the cardinal symptoms. They became symptom-free and the ulcers healed promptly on symptomatic treatment. In-vitro experiments in rats indicated that doxycycline accumulates within the erythrocyte membrane and epithelial cells of the oesophagus. This accumulation is followed by cell destruction. It is assumed that doxycycline capsules remain within the oesophageal lumen and release doxycycline, causing epithelial destruction. This will occur more often after dry swallows of the capsules before going to bed.