James YJ Choi, FRACP. John Sippe, FACD. Stephen Lee, FACD.
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Acitretin for lichen amyloidosus
Article first published online: 15 APR 2008
DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2008.00434.x
© 2008 The Authors
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How to Cite
Choi, J. Y., Sippe, J. and Lee, S. (2008), Acitretin for lichen amyloidosus. Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 49: 109–113. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2008.00434.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 15 APR 2008
- Article first published online: 15 APR 2008
- Submitted 18 April 2007; accepted 20 December 2007.
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Keywords:
- amyloid;
- Australian Aborigine;
- etretinate;
- primary cutaneous amyloid;
- retinoid;
- Vietnamese
SUMMARY
We present two cases of lichen amyloidosus treated with retinoids. A 57-year-old Vietnamese woman has had extensive generalized recalcitrant lichen amyloidosus for 23 years. Treatment with oral etretinate (25 mg/day) for 3 years, and later oral acitretin (10 mg/day) for the past 10 years, has controlled the pruritus and flattened the hyperkeratotic papules. Whenever the acitretin was ceased her symptoms flared within weeks. On each occasion reintroduction of acitretin was effective within 1–2 months. The second case is that of a 51-year-old Australian Aboriginal woman who had a 2-year history of lichen amyloidosus affecting her lower legs. A 2-month course of oral acitretin (25 mg b.d.) produced a marked improvement in both the pruritus and hyperkeratotic papules. She was then lost to follow up for 2 years, during which time her symptoms recurred.