PHOTODYNAMIC RESPONSE OF A NEW TETRACYCLINE

Abstract

To the Editor:— On Sept. 28, 1959, a new tetracycline antibiotic, demethylchlortetracycline (Declomycin) was introduced to the medical profession. Much clinical and laboratory evaluation of this drug prior to its release established that, through its greater persistence in body fluids, reduced milligram administration achieves an equivalent or greater antibacterial activity, compared with other tetracyclines. Extensive pharmacological and laboratory toxicity studies failed to demonstrate any significant therapeutic difference from the other tetracyclines. In the course of clinical evaluation the drug was distributed to 1,354 physicians. In the analysis of the 2,682 reports received to date, a photodynamic reaction to sunlight has been observed in 40 patients, most of whom were on prolonged therapy. In the analysis of these data every patient whose response might be even remotely related to this phenomenon was considered to represent a positive case. This reaction occurs to intense hot sunlight and is apparently similar to that