The antianabolic effect of tetracyclines in a consecutive clinical series

In a series of 58 tetracycline-treated patients from an intensive care unit 33 patients were given oxytetracycline and 25 patients were given doxycycline. In 50 of the patients the serum creatinine level never exceeded 2 mg/100 ml. The serum urea/creatinine ratio was repeatedly determined in all patients. The oxytetracycline group displayed significantly higher mean values for this ratio during treatment than the doxycycline group. This was interpreted as a probable antianabolic effect due to the oxytetracycline therapy.