[Low-dose prophylactic oral isotretinoin treatment for 18 years in a patient with epidermodysplasia verruciformis and numerous squamous cell carcinomas].

Abstract

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (also known as Lewandowsky-Lutz dysplasia) is an extremely rare autosomal recessive genodermatosis, in which the skin is unusually sensitive to human papilloma viruses (HPV). It is associated with a high risk of developing non-melanocytic skin tumors. Treatment with keratolytic retinoids is currently considered to be the most effective therapy. Retinoids have a broad spectrum of activity and inhibit the growth of squamous cell carcinoma and other malignant tumors. We report the case of an 81-year-old woman who had been receiving prophylactic treatment with oral isotretinoin at a daily dose of 1.0-0.33 mg/kg bodyweight for about 18 years because of her epidermodysplasia verruciformis (HPV types 9 & 57 detected). We observed a reduction of the incidence of squamous cell carcinomas of the skin and presume a causal relationship between the treatment with this retinoid and the reduction of squamous cell carcinomas of the skin in this patient.

• Authors: Svetoslava Troyanova-Slavkova, Lena Eickenscheidt, Jörg-Martin Pönnighaus, Lutz Kowalzick
• Journal: Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete (Hautarzt) Vol. 69 Issue 12 Pg. 1033-1038 (Dec 2018) ISSN: 1432-1173 [Electronic] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Niedrig dosierte prophylaktische orale Therapie mit Isotretinoin über 18 Jahre bei einer Patientin mit Epidermodysplasia verruciformis und zahlreichen Plattenepithelkarzinomen.
• PMID: 30250966 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Dermatologic Agents
• Isotretinoin

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Aged, 80 and over
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (drug therapy)
• Dermatologic Agents (administration & dosage)
• Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis (drug therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Isotretinoin (administration & dosage)
• Skin Neoplasms (drug therapy)