Erythroderma in a Patient Taking Acitretin for Plaque Psoriasis
April 2008 | Volume 7 | Issue 4 | 391 | Copyright © April 2008
Jennifer Ahdout BS, Hilary Mandel MD, Melvin Chiu MD
Abstract
Acitretin is a second generation retinoid used in the treatment of psoriasis. It has shown particular efficacy in the treatment
of pustular or erythrodermic psoriasis. A case of a patient who was being treated for plaque psoriasis with acitretin,
who subsequently developed erythrodermic psoriasis is reported. The patient’s erythroderma promptly resolved after discontinuing
acitretin and initiating treatment with cyclosporine. Acitretin has been reported to induce erythrodermic psoriasis
on occasion, but is more frequently reported as a treatment for it. 
