title: Retinoid concentrations in skin, serum and adipose tissue of patients treated with etretinate.
abstract: Synthetic and natural retinoids were analysed in epidermis, dermis, subcutis and serum of twenty-seven patients treated with etretinate (0.6-1.0 mg/kg/day) for 1-36 months. The concentrations of etretinate (including its major metabolite) in serum and normal-appearing epidermis were 150-600 ng/ml and 50-350 ng/g, respectively. The serum and epidermal values were significantly correlated (P less than 0.05). The drug progressively accumulated in the subcutis attaining a maximum value of 15,500 ng/g. After the treatment, etretinate disappeared from the epidermis within 1 week. By contrast, the drug remained in the subcutis for several months after cessation of treatment. The epidermal composition of endogenous retinoids changed during etretinate therapy as reflected in an increased ratio of 3-dehydroretinol to all-trans retinol.
mesh_terms: D017255:Acitretin; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001682:Biological Availability; D002648:Child; D005050:Etretinate / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014212:Tretinoin; D005050:Etretinate; D017255:Acitretin