Both low-dose arotinoid ethylester and acitretin are effective in the treatment of familial erythrokeratodermia variabilis

Dermatol Ther. 2014 Jul-Aug;27(4):240-3. doi: 10.1111/dth.12127. Epub 2014 Apr 22.

Abstract

We previously reported a large Chinese pedigree of erythrokeratodermia variabilis (EKV). A unique feature was that some of the affected members experienced transitory pustules on the border of classic lesions. Here we prescribed oral arotinoid ethylester and acitretin to two of the affected members in the pedigree, at starting dosage of 0.03 mg/day for arotinoid ethylester and 30 mg/day for acitretin, maintenance dosage of 0.03 mg every other day and 20 mg/day, respectively. Both patients reached complete clearance of the lesions during the treatment period. Side effect was negligible for the case on arotinoid ethylester. The patient on acitretin experienced elevated level of serum triglyceride and alanine aminotransferase that restrained further use.

Keywords: acitretin; arotinoid ethylester; familial erythrokeratodermia variabilis; treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acitretin / administration & dosage
  • Acitretin / adverse effects
  • Acitretin / therapeutic use*
  • Adolescent
  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
  • Asian People
  • Benzoates / administration & dosage
  • Benzoates / adverse effects
  • Benzoates / therapeutic use*
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Doxorubicin
  • Erythrokeratodermia Variabilis / drug therapy*
  • Erythrokeratodermia Variabilis / pathology
  • Etoposide
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Keratolytic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Keratolytic Agents / adverse effects
  • Keratolytic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Prednisone
  • Retinoids / administration & dosage
  • Retinoids / adverse effects
  • Retinoids / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Triglycerides / blood
  • Vincristine
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Benzoates
  • Keratolytic Agents
  • Retinoids
  • Triglycerides
  • Vincristine
  • Etoposide
  • ethyl-p-((E)-2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthyl)-1-propenyl)benzoic acid
  • Doxorubicin
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Alanine Transaminase
  • Acitretin
  • Prednisone

Supplementary concepts

  • EPOCH protocol