The authors studied the plasma cholesterol levels in 39 rats (Sprague-Dawley) after 4 weeks administration of etretinate and/or fish oil. The study groups were as follows.'13 rats recieved etretinate only;13, fish oil only;13, both ertetinate and fish oil. Cholesterol levels were determined by standard enzymatic methodology. The results were as follows. Tot,al-cholesterol levels in rats following administration of ertetinate only were increased(p<0.05), but the levels in rats receiving fish oil only and both etretinate and fish oil were markedly decreased(p<0.01). HDL-cholesterol levels in rats following administration of fish oil and both etretinate and fish oil were decreased(p<0.01). The ratio of HDL-cholesterol to total-cholesterol in rats receiving fish oil only and both etretinate and fish oil were increased(p<0.05) because of markedly decreased total-cholesterol levels.
Acitretin* ; Animals ; Cholesterol* ; Etretinate* ; Plasma* ; Rats*

We have investigated the clinical response of 12 patients with erythrodermic psoriasis to therapy with etretinate. Initial dosage of etretinate was 20-60mg/day. The time for complete disappearance of scales averaged 19.9 days. In 10 of 12 patients(83.3%) satisfactory results were obtained after 2 to 11 months of treatment. Cheilitis was the most common side effect. Three patients had mild elevation of blood lipids, which was corrected by dose reduction. Remission period, of ten patients who showed good result, averaged 4.2 months.
Acitretin* ; Cheilitis ; Etretinate* ; Humans ; Psoriasis* ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of Cyclosporin A(CyA) in the treatment of psoriasis is well recongized, the dosage less than 5mg/kg per day(mg/kg/d) is recommended. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the indication, dose, course and side-effects of CyA therapy for psoriasis, especially in China. METHODS: Forty patients with psoriasis were treated with doses of CyA 5mg/kg/d, compared with 20 patients treated with Tigason lmg/kg/d by Global PAST. RESULTS: 1. Of 40 patients 33 patients (82.5%)were cured clinically in 4-5weeks and all the patients(100%) had responses to the therapy. 2. The efficacy and the Global PASI reduction of CyA therapy were significantly better than that of Tigason therapy. 3. During the CyA therapy, no severe side-effects and obvious laboratory changes were found. CONCLUSION: CyA(5mg/kg/d) was satisfactory for psoriasis, especially for psoriasis pustulosa, arthropathica and erythroderma. CyA was found to be superior to Tigason. The therapy course and side-effects seemed to be related to the dosage.
China* ; Clinical Study* ; Cyclosporine* ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Etretinate ; Humans ; Psoriasis*

Confluent and reticulated papillomatosis(CRP) is a rare dermatosis. The lesions are hyperkeratotic, verrucous papules and plaques, resulting in a confluence of lesions centrally and a reticulated pattern at the periphery. It is more common in women and during puberty. The histopathological findings show papillomatosis, hyperkeratosis and a sparse superficial perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate. We report a case of CRP that responded to oral etretinate in an 18-year-old man.
Acitretin* ; Adolescent ; Etretinate* ; Female ; Humans ; Papilloma* ; Puberty ; Skin Diseases

We describe a 8-year-old girl with erythrokeratodermia varibilis (EKV). This diagnosis was supported by erythematous, configurate patches over the entire body. Their size, shape and location varyed with enviromental factors and emotional state. In addition, well defined brownish, hyperkeratotic plaques were scattered over the trunk and extremities. Also, this patient had alopecia universalis, which is not typical of EKV. Etretinate therapy resulted in an almost complete clinical clearing of the plaques; however, her alopecia universalis and erythematous lesions were not affected.
Acitretin ; Alopecia* ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Erythrokeratodermia Variabilis* ; Etretinate ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans

Etretinate, an effective retinoid in the treatment of pustular, erythrodermic and chronic plaque type psoriasis, has the disadvantage of a long terminal elimination half-life. On the other hand, acitretin, the active metabolite of etretinate, has much shorter terminal elimination half-life and is being reported as an agent with good antipsoriatic activity by several authors. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of acitret.in in comparison with etretinate, we treated 10 patients wit,h acitretin at a dose of 30mg per day and 11 patients with etretinate at a same dose for 12 weeks. The PASI score at 12 week was significantly reduced in each group as compared with baseline PASI score. In the acitretin treated group the initial PASI score of 14.5 reduced to 3.9, while the etretinate group PASI score reduced from 12.0 to 3.1. The PASI score differ ences between the acitretin and etretinate groups at each time during therapy and the end of therapy were not statistically significant. The severity of adverse reactions with acitretin was similar to those with etretinate but their incidence was higher. The change in laboratory parameters in the acitretin group was simlar to that of the etretinate group. In view of these results and the known pharmacokinetic advantage of acitretin, that is the short terminal elimination half-life, it is conceivable that acitretin may be a useful alternative to etretinate in the treatment of psoriasis.
Acitretin* ; Etretinate* ; Half-Life ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Psoriasis*

The retinoid Ro 1Q-9359 (Etretinate) is a synthetic derivative of vitamin A acid. It is potent and specific dermatotherapeutic drug used in various keratinizing disorders. Etretinate is today one of the best single oral treatment of severe psoriasis, particuhrly pustular psoriasis and psoriatic erythroderma. We present a case of generalized pustular psoriasis in 12-year-old male which was treated successfully with etretinate. The laboratory examinations revealed no aberrations which could be attributed to the therapy.
Acitretin ; Child* ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Etretinate ; Humans ; Male ; Psoriasis* ; Tretinoin

BACKGROUND: Although treament with PUVA or etretinate is effective for psoriasis, both treatment regimens have limitation because of the risk of long-term toxicity. OBJECTIVE: The present study was performed to compare the clinical effects of PUVA and retinoid-PUVA. METHODS: Twenty five chronic plaque psoriasis patients with more than 20% involvement of the skin suface were included in this study. Sixteen patiens were treated with the PUVA therapy and nine patients were treated with retinoid-PUVA. RESULTS: the number of phototherapy and cumulative UVA doses of retinoid-PUVA were significantly smaller than those of PUVA therapy. CONCLUSION: Combining PUVA with etretinate in the tretment of psoriasis may lead to lowering of total number of PUVA treatments and the cumulative dosage and it may be possible to shorten the duration of using etretinate.
Acitretin ; Etretinate ; Humans ; Phototherapy ; Psoriasis* ; PUVA Therapy ; Skin

Generalized pustular psoriasis is a lethal variant of psoriasis characterized by the appearance of sterile pustules on psoriatic skin. Etretinate and acitretin are effective in pustular forms of psoriasis, including generalized pustular psoriasis. A major concern with the use of systemic retinoid is their high teratogenic potential. Since etretinate and acitretin are remetabolized into long-lived compounds, isotretinoin may be used to treat women of childbearing years with generalized pustular psoriasis. We report a case of generalized pustular psoriasis in a 28-year-old woman whose condition was improved with isotretinoin. Clinical improvement was noted with the administration of isotretinoin at the dose of 30mg/day.
Acitretin ; Adult ; Etretinate ; Female ; Humans ; Isotretinoin* ; Psoriasis* ; Skin

Impetigo herpetiformis is a rare and severe pustular disorder which primarily occurs in pregnancy. Etretinate and acitretin are effective in impetigo herpetiformis with systemic steroid. A major concern with the use of systemic retinoids is their high teratogenic potential. Isotretinoin is another retinoid but its teratogenic potential lasts only for two months. Hence, isotretinoin may be used to treat women of childbearing years with impetigo herpetiformis. We report a case of impetigo herpetiformis in a 26-year-old woman whose condition was improved with isotretinoin.
Acitretin ; Adult ; Etretinate ; Female ; Humans ; Impetigo ; Isotretinoin ; Pregnancy ; Retinoids