Successful treatment of two individual cases of generalized granuloma annulare with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and a combination of doxycycline and pentoxifylline

Abstract

Granuloma annulare is a benign inflammatory skin disease potentially related to a delayed hypersensitivity reaction to the dermis. Generalized granuloma annulare (GGA) manifests as diffuse skin-colored to erythematous annular or nummular plaques affecting at least the trunk and either upper or lower extremities, or both. GGA is resistant to many therapeutic modalities, making it difficult to treat. Different therapeutic approaches to GGA have been attempted but definitive treatment for this disease remains elusive. This article focuses on the use of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and a combination of doxycycline and pentoxifylline therapy as treatment options for GGA in two patients with histopathology-proven interstitial GGA. Both amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and doxycycline inhibit bacterial cell growth, raising the possibility that a bacterial pathogenesis may be of significance in GGA. This is the first reported case of successful treatment of GGA with these regimens.