title: Efficacy of etretinate (Tigason) in clearing and prevention of relapse of palmoplantar pustulosis.
abstract: A total of 40 patients with palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) were initially treated with oral etretinate (Tigason) in an open trail with a maximum treatment period of 16 weeks. Remission, with only slight residual changes in some cases, was achieved in 26 patients (65%) who were randomized to either a low dose of Tigason or placebo. In the Tigason group, 7 of 11 patients were still in remission afer 6 months while in the placebo group, remission persisted in 4 of the 10 patients who stayed in the study throughout the whole 6 months' period. Alopecia led to stopping the treatment in 6 patients and desquamation of the healthy skin in 2 patients. Other side-effects were only mild. As a conclusion, Tigason shows a beneficial effect in the majority of patients with PPP and is better than placebo in preventing relapse of the disease but intolerable side-effects restrict its use in many patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005050:Etretinate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013492:Suppuration; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D014212:Tretinoin; D005050:Etretinate