Effect of topical tazarotene in the treatment of congenital ichthyoses.

Abstract

The clinical efficacy and tolerability of the topical receptor-selective retinoid tazarotene in the treatment of congenital ichthyoses was investigated. Twelve consecutive patients with different forms of congenital ichthyosis were enrolled in an open, non-randomized, intraindividually controlled, half-side pilot study. Diagnoses were X-linked recessive ichthyosis, non-erythrodermic autosomal recessive lamellar ichthyosis, autosomal dominant ichthyosis vulgaris and ichthyosis bullosa of Siemens (IBS). Tazarotene 0.05% gel was applied unilaterally daily on a defined body area measuring 10% of the body surface area. The contralateral side was treated with an ointment containing 10% urea. After 14 days, application frequency was reduced to three times a week, and stopped after another 2 weeks. The follow-up period was 3 months. Reduction in scaling and roughness was used to assess the clinical response in the tazarotene-treated area compared with the control area. Clinical and laboratory assessments were performed every 14 days during the trial. Unilateral improvement in favour of the tazarotene-treated side was observed in nine of 12 patients (75%). Four patients (33%) achieved an excellent response and four (33%) achieved a good response. No therapeutic effect was seen in patients with IBS. The remission persisted during the reduction phase and after discontinuation for up to 2 months. Local irritation in three patients was the only side-effect detectable. Short-term topical application of tazarotene 0.05% gel is a very effective and well-tolerated treatment modality in different forms of congenital ichthyoses and may be an alternative to systemic retinoid therapy.

• Authors: B Hofmann, H Stege, T Ruzicka, P Lehmann
• Journal: The British journal of dermatology (Br J Dermatol) Vol. 141 Issue 4 Pg. 642-6 (Oct 1999) ISSN: 0007-0963 [Print] England
• PMID: 10583110 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Gels
• Keratolytic Agents
• Nicotinic Acids
• tazarotene

Topics

• Administration, Cutaneous
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Dermatitis, Irritant (etiology)
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Gels
• Humans
• Ichthyosis, X-Linked (drug therapy)
• Keratolytic Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nicotinic Acids (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Pilot Projects