title: Benefit of progressively increasing doses during the initial treatment with acitretin in psoriasis.
abstract: The purpose of this double-blind study was to compare the therapeutic effects of a low initial dosage of acitretin, increased at 2-week intervals (group 1: 10, 30, 50 mg/day) with a high initial dosage decreased at similar intervals (group 3: 50, 30, 10 mg/day) and with a constant dosage (group 2: 30 mg/day) in 66 patients (47 men and 19 women) with severe psoriasis. At the end of the double-blind phase, the mean percent improvement, calculated by the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score, was as follows: 62.7% in group 1, 55.9% in group 2 and 67.1% in group 3. The double-blind phase of 6 weeks was followed by an open phase of 6 weeks, during which the patients were treated either with 10, 30 or 50 mg/day, according to the therapeutic response. At the end of treatment (12 weeks), a mean improvement of more than 80% was obtained in all three groups. Hypervitaminosis A signs and symptoms were observed in all patients. The frequency and severity of these adverse reactions were shown to be dose-dependent. This study shows that a low dose progressively increased is advisable because of similar activity and better acceptability.
authors.affiliation: Clinique Dermatologique, Hôtel-Dieu, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berbis
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Geiger
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vaisse
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rognin
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Privat
mesh_terms: D017255:Acitretin; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014212:Tretinoin; D017255:Acitretin