Treatment of Psoriasis vulgaris with a New Retinoic Acid Derivative Ro 10-9359

Abstract

The retinoic acid derivative Ro 10-9359, given orally in maximum daily doses of 100 mg to 15 patients with psoriasis vulgaris, led to clearing of the lesions in 8 patients. The average period of treatment was 9 weeks. In 14 patients side-effects were observed, the most important being palmo-plantar desquamation, shivering, thirst and diffuse hair loss. In 2 patients scaling led to withdrawal. In 6 patients abnormal alkaline phosphatase and glutamic-aspartatic transaminase values, partly transient, developed (glutamic-aspartatic transaminase, p < 0.01).

Side Effects Due to RO 10-9359 (Tigason)

“…In other clinical trials a transient slight elevation of liver enzymes has been shown [2,4,5,12,15], that is equal to the 3 patients with slight eleva tion of a single liver parameter in just one examination in our material.…”

“…With regard to more unpleasant side effects our results corre spond to other materials. 5 of our patients had diffuse hair loss, which others have found in up to a third of the patients [2,5,15,16]. One had epostaxis and 1 patient conjunctivitis, as seen by others as infrequent side effects [2,15], Some authors reported pruritus, thinning of the skin, bala nitis, hyperhidrosis, impression of cold, headache as well as palmoplantar desquamation and fissures [1,4,5,15], None of these side effects were found in our study, and with regard to desquamation and fissures, these were not counted for reasons mentioned above.…”

Two Years’ Experience with Tigason Treatment of Pustulosis palmo-plantaris and Eczema keratoticum manuum

“…The results obtained of Tigason treatment of psoriasis and Darier's disease in this Department have already been described [1,2] and the present paper gives a brief report on our experience after 2 years of ther apeutic experiments in conditions such as pustulosis palmo-plantaris (PPP) and eczema keratoticum manuum (EKM).…”

“…Prior to and during treatment with Tigason the patients were carefully checked with regard to possible disturbances in bone marrow, liver and kidney function according to the same principles as those described in previous reports [1,2], Dosage varied from 25 to 50 mg/24 h and only in a few cases was the dose raised to 75 mg/24 h. Topical treatment was limited to neutral preparations such as moisture cream or cold cream. However, in patients who were treated for 6 months or more, Tigason was combined with steroid cream, salicylic vaseline or dithranol preparations, depending on the severity of each individual case.…”

Influence of Retinoid Ro 10-9359 on Cell-Mediated Immunity in vivo

“…They have been particularly employed in disorders of keratinization, such as psori asis, keratosis follicularis and ichthyosis [1][2][3]. Retinoids have also been demonstrated to have a preventive action on certain neoplasms [4], Despite the undoubted therapeutic effect in these conditions, the mecha nism remains unknown.…”