isotretinoin and Sarcoidosis

In this chapter, we will discuss the most common alopecias due to drugs and other skin and systemic disorders. The following hair disorders will be analyzed: telogen effluvium (acute and chronic); anagen effluvium; folliculotropic mycosis fungoides; and folliculitis due to bacteria, fungi, parasites, human immunodeficiency virus disease, lupus erythematosus, and sarcoidosis. We will cover topics including the epidemiology, etiology, clinical picture, and diagnosis of and current treatments for each disease.

Topics: Alopecia; Anticonvulsants; Antidepressive Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Dermatologic Agents; Dermatomycoses; Diet; Folliculitis; Herpes Zoster; HIV Infections; Humans; Isotretinoin; Lamotrigine; Lithium Compounds; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Malnutrition; Mycosis Fungoides; Paroxetine; Sarcoidosis; Seasons; Skin Neoplasms; Starvation; Stress, Psychological; Syphilis; Triazines; Valproic Acid

The association of systemic sarcoidosis and malignant lymphoma is known as the 'sarcoidosis-lymphoma syndrome'. Cutaneous involvement is rare in this syndrome. We report a 52-year-old woman who was diagnosed as having tumour-stage mycosis fungoides. Complete remission was achieved by combination therapy consisting of isotretinoin, interferon (IFN) alpha, electron beam irradiation, photochemotherapy and topical corticosteroids. Three years later, the patient developed systemic sarcoidosis characterized by yellowish papules on the abdominal wall and the eyelids that histologically revealed non-caseating granulomas, multiple fine-nodular interstitial pulmonary infiltrates on chest X-ray, hilar lymphadenopathy, decreased vital capacity and increased lymphocyte count in bronchoalveloar lavage fluid. As opposed to most of the reported cases, in our patient the manifestation of cutaneous lymphoma preceded the diagnosis of systemic sarcoidosis. We review the cases reported in the literature and discuss a possible causal and temporal relationship as well as the role of IFN alpha in the development of sarcoidosis.

Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Humans; Interferon-alpha; Isotretinoin; Keratolytic Agents; Methylprednisolone; Middle Aged; Mycosis Fungoides; Phototherapy; Sarcoidosis; Skin Neoplasms; Syndrome

Topics: Alkalosis; Benzothiadiazines; Calcinosis; Cholecalciferol; Diuretics; Humans; Hypercalcemia; Hyperparathyroidism; Isotretinoin; Lithium; Osteitis Deformans; Sarcoidosis; Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors; Tamoxifen; Tretinoin; Vitamin A

A 32-year-old man presented with multiple reddish and skin-colored asymptomatic skin lesions over his face and ears present for a year. These lesions appeared in crops at variable intervals, healing with scarring over the next few months. He had received doxycycline and azithromycin for about 6 months without any relief. No history of flushing, worsening of lesions on sun exposure, or eating spicy food, was reported. He had no chronic illness or prolonged usage of any medication. The patient neither had abdominal pain, respiratory distress, or uveitis to suggest sarcoidosis nor accounted any personal or family history of tuberculosis. (

Topics: Adult; Facial Dermatoses; Granuloma; Humans; Isotretinoin; Male; Rosacea; Sarcoidosis

Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Adolescent; Adult; Dermatologic Agents; Dermatology; Facial Dermatoses; Female; Humans; Isotretinoin; Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous; Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid; Patient Preference; Quality of Life; Risk-Taking; Sarcoidosis; Self Concept; Suicide; Young Adult

We report a 31-year-old female patient with cutaneous sarcoidosis, who showed a complete remission of her single system skin disease after an 8-month therapy with oral isotretinoin (1 mg/kg/day). At 15-month follow-up, the patient still remained free of recurrence and visceral involvement.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Isotretinoin; Keratolytic Agents; Remission Induction; Sarcoidosis; Skin Diseases

Topics: Adult; Facial Dermatoses; Female; Forehead; Humans; Isotretinoin; Sarcoidosis; Skin; Tretinoin

A patient with chronic cutaneous and pulmonary sarcoidosis, unresponsive to oral corticosteroid therapy, was treated with isotretinoin. The patient's cutaneous manifestations of sarcoidosis showed consistent improvement during the course of retinoid therapy. The lesions that responded earliest either resolved or showed the greatest reduction in size. The patient's WBC count increased and her angiotensin-converting enzyme level decreased during the first two months of isotretinoin therapy; both returned to pretreatment levels during the third month of therapy. Pulmonary function tests were unchanged after four months of treatment. Isotretinoin may be a useful therapeutic agent for cutaneous sarcoidosis. However, the possibility of spontaneous remission of the disease during the course of therapy cannot be excluded.

Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Isotretinoin; Sarcoidosis; Skin; Skin Diseases; Time Factors; Tretinoin