Karl Herxheimer
Encyclopedia
Karl Herxheimer was a German-Jewish dermatologist who was a native of Wiesbaden
.
In 1885 he received his doctorate at Würzburg
, and later worked with his brother, Salomon Herxheimer (1841-1899) in Frankfurt-am-Main. In 1894 he became director of the dermatology clinic in Frankfurt, and with Paul Ehrlich
(1854-1915), was instrumental in founding the University of Frankfurt
. In 1914 he became professor for skin and venereal diseases at the new university. In late 1942, at the age of 81, Karl Herxheimer was murdered by the Nazis at Theresienstadt
.
Herxheimer is credited with providing an early description of acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans
(diffuse idiopathic cutaneous atrophy), which is a dermatological disorder associated the latter stages of Lyme disease
. This condition is sometimes referred to as Pick-Herxheimer disease, named along with co-discoverer Philipp Josef Pick (1834-1910). With Austrian dermatologist Adolf Jarisch
(1850-1902), the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction is named, which is an inflammatory reaction to Salvarsan, antibiotics or mercury
, when using these agents to treat syphilis
.
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
.
In 1885 he received his doctorate at Würzburg
University of Würzburg
The University of Würzburg is a university in Würzburg, Germany, founded in 1402. The university is a member of the distinguished Coimbra Group.-Name:...
, and later worked with his brother, Salomon Herxheimer (1841-1899) in Frankfurt-am-Main. In 1894 he became director of the dermatology clinic in Frankfurt, and with Paul Ehrlich
Paul Ehrlich
Paul Ehrlich was a German scientist in the fields of hematology, immunology, and chemotherapy, and Nobel laureate. He is noted for curing syphilis and for his research in autoimmunity, calling it "horror autotoxicus"...
(1854-1915), was instrumental in founding the University of Frankfurt
Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main
The Goethe University Frankfurt was founded in 1914 as a Citizens' University, which means that, while it was a State university of Prussia, it had been founded and financed by the wealthy and active liberal citizenry of Frankfurt am Main, a unique feature in German university history...
. In 1914 he became professor for skin and venereal diseases at the new university. In late 1942, at the age of 81, Karl Herxheimer was murdered by the Nazis at Theresienstadt
Theresienstadt concentration camp
Theresienstadt concentration camp was a Nazi German ghetto during World War II. It was established by the Gestapo in the fortress and garrison city of Terezín , located in what is now the Czech Republic.-History:The fortress of Terezín was constructed between the years 1780 and 1790 by the orders...
.
Herxheimer is credited with providing an early description of acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans
Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans
Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans is a skin rash indicative of the third or late stage of European Lyme borreliosis....
(diffuse idiopathic cutaneous atrophy), which is a dermatological disorder associated the latter stages of Lyme disease
Lyme disease
Lyme disease, or Lyme borreliosis, is an emerging infectious disease caused by at least three species of bacteria belonging to the genus Borrelia. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto is the main cause of Lyme disease in the United States, whereas Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii cause most...
. This condition is sometimes referred to as Pick-Herxheimer disease, named along with co-discoverer Philipp Josef Pick (1834-1910). With Austrian dermatologist Adolf Jarisch
Adolf Jarisch
Adolf Jarisch was an Austrian dermatologist born in Vienna. He studied medicine in Vienna, and afterwards worked in the dermatology clinic of Ferdinand von Hebra . Later he became head of the dermatology clinic at the Universities of Innsbruck and Graz...
(1850-1902), the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction is named, which is an inflammatory reaction to Salvarsan, antibiotics or mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
, when using these agents to treat syphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
.