Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis. Effect of tretinoin therapy on the clinical course and the basic defects in the stratum corneum

Epidermolytic hereditary palmoplantar keratoderma.

“…Our patients treated with AR represent an instructive example of the effectiveness as well as of the limitations of this novel therapeutic modality. Oral aromatic retlnoids have emerged as a major achievement in the therapy of hyperkeratotic skin conditions including such heterogeneous disorders as psoriasis Ott, 1977), lichen planus, bullous ichthyosiform erythroderma (Schorr & Papa, 1973), lamellar ichthyosis, erythrokeratodermia figurata vadabilis (Van der Wateren & Cormane, 1977), Darier's disease (Honigsmann, Fritsch & Jaschke, 1978), leukoplakias, oral florid papillomatosis, actinic keratoses and even common wans. Obviously, there is hardly a common denominator in the pathogenesis of these conditions which might be linked to a specific property of the retinoids.…”

“…Similarly, Schnyder & Gloor (1977) noted persistence of cpidermolytic hyperkeratosis in patients with bullous ichthyosiform erythroderma treated with the aromatic retinoid, accompanied by an increased tendency to form bullae. Improvement of the epidermolytic changes following topical retinoic acid therapy, however, has been claimed (Schorr & Papa, 1973). Obviously, the effect of AR in EHPPK is largely symptomatic, and it may be expected to be similarly symptomatic in most other hyperkeratotic conditions.…”