4-(2-(5-6-7-8-tetrahydro-5-5-8-8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-1-propenyl)benzoic-acid and Psoriasis

Synthetic retinoids were first evaluated 15 years ago for systemic treatment of psoriasis in the Federal Republic of Germany. Etretinate was introduced 2 years ago into the market for systemic treatment of all severe types of the disease. Today etretinate is administered as monotherapy and/or combined with other modalities (anthralin, tar, topical corticosteroids, selective UV therapy, RePUVA), which leads to successful clearing in most cases. Nevertheless, thorough consideration of the risk-benefit ratio is required in each individual patient. The advantages and disadvantages are presented that should be taken into consideration. As a rule, severe cases of psoriasis are admitted to the hospital; initial treatment is given and then continued on an outpatient basis. In some patients, particularly those with pustular eruptions and/or erythroderma, low-dosage oral etretinate may be continued for prophylactic reasons over several months or years. Since the amount of hospitalization is reduced, the overall treatment costs are reduced in spite of the high cost of the drug. The main disadvantage of oral retinoids is their teratogenicity, although no severe cases of retinoid toxicity have been reported in the last 2 years in the Federal Republic of Germany since their introduction. As a successor drug to etretinate, its free aromatic acid, Ro 10-1670 is now under clinical investigation. It seems to be clinically effective, is rapidly eliminated, and requires only 4 weeks contraception after discontinuation of oral administration. Arotinoids then follow.

Topics: Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; Acitretin; Benzoates; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Clinical Trials as Topic; Etretinate; Humans; Lipids; Long-Term Care; Prognosis; Psoriasis; Retinoids; Risk; Skin; Tretinoin

Ro 13-7410 was given to 29 patients (a total of 38 treatment courses) for 7.5 weeks (range 4-23). This compound is one of the most potent retinoids ever synthetized and has the highest affinity to human skin cellular retinoic-acid-binding protein. At therapeutically active doses, it did not induce the commonly seen mucocutaneous signs of retinoid toxicity such as scaling and cheilitis; over 0.5 microgram/kg body weight/day, it very frequently induced an eczematous retinoid dermatitis. This pilot study provides some indications on what appears to be in several aspects a drug quite distinct from retinoids previously used in humans.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Benzoates; Dermatitis; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Prurigo; Psoriasis; Retinoids; Skin Diseases