Etretinate may work where acitretin fails.
Acitretin (Ro 10-1670, Neotigason), a second-generation monoaromatic retinoid, is the main acid derivative and active metabolite of etretinate (Ro 10-9359, Tigason). Three patients who were unresponsive to treatment with acitretin but who responded to etretinate are reported. Twenty-nine patients in the U.K. are currently receiving etretinate on a named-patient basis. Possible explanations for the functional discrepancy between the two drugs are discussed.
Bleiker
T O
TO
Department of Dermatology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, U.K.
Bourke
J F
JF
Graham-Brown
R A
RA
Hutchinson
P E
PE
D017255:Acitretin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D007644:Darier Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D005050:Etretinate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007645:Keratoderma, Palmoplantar / Q000188:drug therapy; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017211:Treatment Failure
D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D005050:Etretinate; D017255:Acitretin