title: Pharmacokinetics of acitretin.
abstract: Acitretin, the metabolite of etretinate, is eliminated far more rapidly from the human body than is etretinate. It has therefore been suggested that only a short period of contraception would be required following the completion of long-term therapy. However, recent studies have demonstrated the presence of etretinate in the plasma of acitretin-treated patients. In this paper, we review the results of studies at our centre in view of the recently discovered metabolic pathways for acitretin. Re-esterification of acitretin to etretinate, however, results in a loss of the metabolic advantages of acitretin. Because of this new knowledge, the recommended contraception period after acitretin therapy has been lengthened to 2 years.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Medical Biochemistry and Clinical Analysis, University of Ghent, 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 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D017255:Acitretin