Section : Conference Notes

Acitretin in the treatment of Psoriasis

  • Acitretin, like all retinoids, promote the differentiation of keratinocytes. It is useful in combination with other therapies, particularly with phototherapy, or as a maintenance therapy after control with a faster reacting agent.
  • Dosing of acitretin is usually started at 10-25 mg per day, with a slow titration up in dose. Recent studies have shown that adverse events are much more common in high dose regimens (50 mg daily) as compared to low dose regimens (10-25 mg daily).
  • Higher doses of acitretin are often limited by the common side effects, including dry lips, dry eyes, xerosis, hair loss, and myalgias. Experienced patients can adjust the dosing of acitretin themselves depending on disease activity and side effects. More serious adverse effects of acitretin include teratogenicity, hepatotoxicity, and hyperlipidemia.

Kalb. R 2013 (07) – Kalb. R. Treatment of Psoriasis in the Age of Biologics – 25th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Dermatological Society of Singapore (DSS) – Singapore