Response of HIV-associated disseminated cat scratch disease to treatment with doxycycline

Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is often complicated by skin disorders, such as Kaposi's sarcoma. Recent reports have identified a microorganism in HIV-related skin and blood vessel lesions that resembles the bacillus-type organism that causes cat scratch disease. In cat scratch disease, the bacteria Pasteurella multocida are usually transmitted by the bite or scratch of a cat. The cat scratch bacillus or a similar organism was shown to cause the widespread development of node-like skin lesions in HIV-infected patients. This HIV-related skin disease has been referred to as epithelioid angiomatosis, bacillary angiomatosis, and disseminated cat scratch disease. Epithelioid or bacillary angiomatosis has been treated with a combination of antibiotics, although it remains unclear which antibiotic is most effective. A case is described of a 48-year-old homosexual man with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and advanced cat scratch disease who responded to treatment with the antibiotic doxycycline. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)