[Drug induced esophageal ulcers].

Drug induced esophageal ulcers are more frequent than supposed. Four ulcerative lesions of the esophagus, two after ingestion of doxycycline-hydrochloride, one after metacycline-hydrochloride, and one after emeproniumbromide were detected at the department of Internal Medicine of a medium-sized standard-hospital during the last six years. Symptoms develop suddenly after taking the drug with minimum fluid, usually before going to bed. Retrosternal burning, odynophagia and dysphagia are pathognomonic features. The cause of ulceration is discussed to be a matter of the drug remaining in the esophagus and of its local cytolytic and corrosive effect. Cytomegalo and herpes-simplex-infections can be excluded as etiologic factor of such ulcers. The clinical diagnosis is verified by endoscopy only.