title: Chemotherapy for disseminated actinic keratoses with 5-fluorouracil and isotretinoin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Disseminated actinic keratoses are a therapeutic problem.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our purpose was to evaluate the efficacy of a combination of topical 5-fluorouracil twice a day and 20 mg of oral isotretinoin daily for disseminated actinic keratoses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven patients who had disseminated actinic keratoses (3 women, 24 men) were treated with 5-fluorouracil (5%) twice a day applied to the photodamaged area bearing actinic keratoses along with oral isotretinoin, 20 mg daily. The median treatment time was 21 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Actinic keratoses disappeared and signs of photodamaged skin improved in all patients. Side effects were burning and itching as well as painful erosions during the final stage of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of topical 5-fluorouracil and isotretinoin is highly effective in the treatment of disseminated actinic keratoses on photodamaged skin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kligman
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Plewig
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017499:Porokeratosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015474:Isotretinoin; D005472:Fluorouracil