title: Pharmacokinetics and drug interactions of etretinate and acitretin.
abstract: Acitretin, the metabolite of etretinate, is eliminated far more rapidly from the human body than is etretinate. It had therefore been suggested that only a short period of contraception would be required after the cessation of long-term therapy with acitretin. However, recent studies have demonstrated the presence of etretinate in the plasma of patients who were treated with acitretin. In this article we provide results from a study in our center and discuss earlier data in light of the recently discovered metabolic pathways for acitretin. Reesterification of acitretin to etretinate, however, results in a loss of the metabolic advantages of acitretin. Because of this situation the recommended contraception period after acitretin therapy has been lengthened to 2 years.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoria voor Medische Biochemie en voor Klinische Analyse, Universiteit Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: De Leenheer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Bersaques
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kint
mesh_terms: D017255:Acitretin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005050:Etretinate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D005050:Etretinate; D017255:Acitretin