title: Bone changes and their significance in children with ichthyosis on long-term etretinate therapy.
abstract: Anxiety about the use of etretinate in children has been provoked by several reports describing skeletal abnormalities during long-term therapy. However, we have observed no evidence of skeletal toxicity in 42 children treated over an 11-year period. Radiological screening before and during treatment has failed to reveal abnormalities that would influence our decision to commence or to continue etretinate administration. We recommend that children who are to be treated with etretinate should have a baseline selective skeletal survey, with follow-up radiology restricted to those with pretreatment radiological abnormalities and those who develop musculo-skeletal symptoms. In addition we advise that dosage should not exceed 1 mg/kg/day. If these guidelines are followed, we believe that long-term therapy with etretinate can be given to children, with an acceptable margin of safety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital for Sick Children, London, U.K.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Paige
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Judge
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Atherton
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Harper
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005050:Etretinate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007057:Ichthyosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005050:Etretinate