The Efficacy and tolerability of acitretine in the patients with psoriasis

SUMMARY Both etretinate and its principal metabolite acitretin, are efficacious in the treatment of psoriasis and various keratinization disorders. In this study, clinical improvement of 20 patients with psoriasis who were treated with acitretin evaluated. Systemic treatment with acitretin was started with an oral daily dose of 50 mg in two patients with erytrodermic psoriasis and two patient with pustular psoriasis and 30 mg in 16 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis. The patients were examined and questioned at 2-week intervals during first three month and at 4-week intervals during three second month. The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated at the begining and follow-up examinations by PASI score ( Psoriasis Area and Severity Index ). Clinical improvement calculated by the PASI score at weeks 12 of the treatment, was % 14 in one patient, % 70+25 in other patients. All patients experienced adverse reactions; dry lips, pruritus, dryness and peeling of the skin and facial erythema were the most frequent. 36