Plexin B2 tissue expression and related gene polymorphisms in psoriasis and their relation to NB-UVB and Acitretin therapy.

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated, hyperproliferative skin disease. Etiopathogenesis of psoriasis is not well understood. Plexin B2 was found to have effects on CD100-mediated T-cell morphology and expressed in the immune system. It may play a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. To assess the tissue level of plexin-B2 and plexin B2 related gene polymorphism which is signal regulatory protein gamma (SIRPγ-rs71212732) in psoriatic patients before and after NB-UVB, acitretin therapy alone or in combination and to detect correlation between level of tissue plexin B2 and disease severity and improvement. This single blinded randomized controlled trial was carried on 50 psoriatic patients and 50 healthy controls. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score (PASI) was used to evaluate the disease severity. Tissue plexin-b2 level was measured using ELISA and SIRPγ-rs71212732 (T\C) was assessed using TaqMan™ assays and real-time PCR. A significant lower tissue plexin-B2 level was observed in control group (2.9 ± 0.6 pg/g) than cases (25.8 ± 2.8, pg/g) (p < 0.001). Also, a significantly higher tissue plexin-B2 level was observed in sever psoriasis (32.7 ± 3.8 pg/ml) in than moderate psoriasis (13.6 ± 2.1 pg/ml, p = 0.001). Tissue plexin B2 was positively correlated with diseases severity. Significantly higher (TC& TT) genotypes and mutant (C) allele among patients compared to the controls, p < 0.001 for all. Tissue plexin-b2 level was high in psoriasis vulgaris with positive correlation with disease severity and decreased after treatment. This may indicate a role of plexin-b2 in psoriasis vulgaris pathogenesis.

Oral Psoriasis Therapies.

Oral psoriasis therapies include both older traditional immunosuppressants, such as methotrexate, cyclosporine, and acitretin, as well as newer, more targeted agents, such as apremilast, deucravacitinib, and oral interleukin-23 receptor antagonists. Patients may prefer oral therapies to injectable therapies based on the route of administration. Both older and newer oral psoriasis therapies can be utilized effectively in the treatment of psoriasis. Here, we will review oral agents used in the treatment of psoriasis as well as provide commentary on their role in our current, evolving psoriasis treatment paradigm.

Combination of secukinumab and acitretin for generalized pustular psoriasis: A case report and review of literature.

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is characterized by painful and occasionally disfiguring cutaneous manifestations with sepsis-like systemic symptoms, and is a rare severe variant of psoriasis. Currently, there is no standard treatment for GPP. Here, we report a case of a female patient with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and mild scalp psoriasis, who developed GPP and alopecia following three courses of adalimumab therapy. The patient's condition gradually improved following cessation of adalimumab and treatment with secukinumab and acitretin. After eight weeks of treatment, the patient achieved almost complete clearance of her psoriasis, her alopecia improved, and her AS was relieved. Therefore, we believe that a combination of secukinumab with acitretin may be a rational approach for the treatment of severe GPP.

Low-Dose Acitretin for Secondary Prevention of Keratinocyte Carcinomas in Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: Keratinocyte carcinomas, particularly squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), occur more frequently and aggressively in solid-organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) than in the general population. Systemic retinoids are effective in secondary prevention of keratinocyte carcinomas in this population, but their use is limited by adverse effects including a rebound effect in cases of treatment discontinuation. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine whether low-dose acitretin is efficient in the secondary prevention of keratinocyte carcinomas in SOTRs. METHODS: This retrospective case-crossover study was conducted at a specialized dermatology clinic for SOTRs in a large transplantation center in 2010-2017. Patients with at least 1 previous keratinocyte carcinoma who were treated with acitretin 10 mg/day for 2 years were included. The main outcome was the difference in the number of new keratinocyte carcinomas diagnosed during treatment compared to during the 2-year pretreatment period. RESULTS: The cohort included 34 SOTRs. A significant reduction in the mean number of new keratinocyte carcinomas during treatment relative to the pretreatment period was observed (1.7 vs. 3.6, -53% p = 0.002). Similar results were noted on analysis by tumor type, for both SCC and basal cell carcinoma. CONCLUSION: This study of SOTRs demonstrated positive results for low-dose acitretin as a chemoprevention of keratinocyte carcinomas in this population.

Acitretin-induced periungual pyogenic granulomas and review.

Periungual pyogenic granulomas are benign vascular tumors that present as painful, round, spontaneously bleeding lesions composed of rapidly proliferating capillaries and excess tissue. The vast majority of pyogenic granulomas are caused by physical trauma or infectious agents and they may resolve spontaneously. Herein, we highlight a very rare case of periungual pyogenic granulomas induced by the regularly prescribed oral retinoid acitretin during treatment for congenital palmoplantar keratoderma. This unique case showed that it is feasible to continue acitretin therapy in the presence of pyogenic granuloma development if proper dose reduction and topical therapies are utilized. The patient's lesions resolved within two weeks of this protocol's initiation and the pyogenic granulomas did not recur over the course of a six-month follow-up observation period. In addition, we performed a systematic review of the literature using PubMed databases for the clinical features and treatments in other reported acitretin-induced pyogenic granuloma cases; we compiled a comprehensive list of other prescription drugs known to cause pyogenic granulomas up-to-date.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Hepatic Fibrosis in Psoriatic Patients Receiving Methotrexate with Concomitant Acitretin Therapy and Methotrexate Monotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The use of methotrexate-acitretin (MTX-ACI) combination therapy in treating psoriasis has been limited due to concerns related to hepatic fibrosis. However, in vitro evidence revealed a protective effect of acitretin in methotrexate (MTX)-induced liver fibrosis. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the real-life incidence of hepatic fibrosis in patients with psoriasis receiving MTX-ACI and MTX monotherapy and to investigate factors associated with hepatic fibrosis in MTX-exposed patients. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on a real-life registry containing data on patients with psoriasis who were administered MTX-ACI or MTX between 2008 and 2019 and underwent transient elastography according to cumulative MTX dose of 1.0-1.5 g and/or 3.5-4.0 g. Time-to-event analysis was performed to determine the cumulative incidence, incidence rate, and factors potentially affecting the occurrence of hepatic fibrosis. RESULTS: Of the 160 patients, 32 (20%) were treated with MTX-ACI, and 128 (80%) with MTX alone. Four patients (12.5%) in MTX-ACI group and 21 (16.4%) in MTX group developed hepatic fibrosis (p = 0.59). There was no statistically significant difference in cumulative incidence (16% in MTX-ACI vs 17% in MTX, p = 0.89) and incidence rate (37 cases per 1000 person-year in MTX-ACI vs 23 cases per 1000 person-year in MTX; hazard ratio [HR] = 1.07; p = 0.90) of hepatic fibrosis between the two groups. Diabetes and obesity were identified as significant factors associated with hepatic fibrosis (adjusted HR = 2.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-5.51; p = 0.04 and adjusted HR = 3.28, 95% CI: 1.18-9.16; p = 0.02, respectively) regardless of the cumulative MTX dose. CONCLUSION: The incidence of hepatic fibrosis in a real-life clinical situation, determined by transient elastography in patients with psoriasis receiving MTX-ACI, was not increased compared to those receiving MTX monotherapy. Type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity were identified as risk factors of hepatic fibrosis; hence, patients with these factors receiving long-term MTX therapy should be regularly monitored for this particular event.

Acitretin for Secondary Prevention of Keratinocyte Cancers in a Veteran Population: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Acitretin, a vitamin A derivative used for psoriasis, can prevent keratinocyte carcinoma (KC). It induced regression of keratoacanthomas (KA) in animal models, presumably by activating retinoic acid and retinoid X receptors that regulate gene expression for growth and proliferation.1,2.

Case Report: Treatment of Chromoblastomycosis with Combinations including Acitretin: A Report of Two Cases.

Chromoblastomycosis is a cutaneous fungal infection caused by dematiaceous fungi that belong to the order Chaetothyriales and family Herpotrichiellaceae. This infection is prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas and has been designated as a neglected tropical disease according to the WHO. Chromoblastomycosis infection is difficult to treat, and there are limited therapeutic options, making urgent the characterization of new medicines or approaches to treat such infection. In the present case report, two patients with extensive chromoblastomycosis lesions were treated with the combination of itraconazole, acitretin, and imiquimod. In the fourth month of treatment, both patients showed improvement of verrucous plates, suggesting that acitretin combined with drugs already used in chromoblastomycosis therapy can decrease the time of treatment, improving patient's quality of life.

Hypertrophic lichenoid dermatitis immune-related adverse event during combined immune checkpoint and exportin inhibitor therapy: A diagnostic pitfall for superficially invasive squamous cell carcinoma.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for cancer treatment have revolutionized the field of medicine. However, an unintended but frequent consequence of ICI therapy is the development of cutaneous immune-related adverse events (irAEs), such as lichenoid dermatitis irAEs (LD-irAEs). The hypertrophic variant of LD-irAE may be a diagnostic challenge since it can mimic superficially invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). A 79-year-old woman with metastatic melanoma who began treatment with an ICI-pembrolizumab-plus exportin-1 (XPO1) inhibitor presented after 1 month of therapy with symmetrical violaceous papules coalescing into plaques and with two nodules of the bilateral dorsal hands. Biopsy of the nodules revealed an actinic keratosis and atypical epidermal proliferation concerning for SCC. However, in the ensuing 3 weeks, the patient developed multiple new erythematous, violaceous, and scaly macules and papules, some coalescing into plaques on the extremities. Biopsies of these lesions revealed exuberant irregular epidermal hyperplasia with hypermaturation and lichenoid infiltrate concentrated at the base of the elongated, broadened rete ridges, consistent with hypertrophic LD-irAE. Treatment included topical fluocinonide ointment, intralesional triamcinolone injections and oral acitretin. Distinguishing hypertrophic LD-irAE and SCC can be challenging since both entities share histopathologic features; thus, correlation with clinical presentation is essential for diagnosis and optimal patient management.

Research "recover from illness defense complex" helper T cell immune mechanisms based on the "Fuxie" theory clearing away heat evil thoroughly nourishing kidney treatment of recurrent blood-heat syndrome Psoriasis.

INTRODUCTION: Psoriasis vulgaris (PV) is a chronic, painful, disfiguring, and disabling dermatological disease, which affects the physical and mental health of patients and impacts their quality of life. Current conventional systemic therapies can be costly, present risks of side effects, have limited efficacy and commonly recur following treatment cessation. Some Chinese herbal medicine therapies have shown therapeutic benefits for psoriasis vulgaris, including relieving symptoms and improving quality of life, and a potential of reducing relapse rate. However, explicit evidence has not yet been obtained. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a pilot randomized controlled trial with the objective of investigating the effect of Jia Wei Liang Xue Xiao Feng San granules on relapse rate of recurrent PV and the correlation between Psoriasis area severity index (PASI) and key psoriasis-related cytokine changes and the number of cells. A total of 102 participants were recruited for this study, including 72 patients with recurrent PV, 15 healthy volunteers and 15 patients with psoriasis vulgaris who have recovered for more than 1 year. A total of 72 patients, with recurrent PV, will be randomized (1:1) to receive the oral Chinese herbal medicine Jia Wei Liang Xue Xiao Feng San or the oral Acitretin Capsule treatments for a period of 8 weeks. After this period, participants whose PASI scores improvement reached more than 75%, will undergo a 52-week follow-up phase.The primary outcome measures are as follows:The secondary study outcomes will include:This trial may provide a novel regimen for recurrent PV patients if the granules decrease recurrence rate without further adverse effects. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The ethics approval was provided by the Sichuan Traditional Chinese medicine regional ethics review committee. The ethics approval number is 2018KL-055. The design and the results of the study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1900022766).

Efficacy of acitretin in the treatment of reactive neutrophilic dermatoses in adult-onset immunodeficiency due to interferon-gamma autoantibody.

Reactive neutrophilic dermatoses in adult-onset immunodeficiency due to interferon-γ autoantibody (AOID) are usually associated with concomitant active opportunistic infections. Data focusing on the treatment of these dermatoses with non-immunosuppressive drugs are still lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of acitretin treatment of reactive neutrophilic dermatoses in AOID. We conducted a retrospective review of all patients with AOID who had reactive neutrophilic dermatoses and had been treated with acitretin from January 2008 to December 2018. In total, 23 patients had been diagnosed with AOID, with 27 episodes of reactive neutrophilic dermatoses (20 episodes of Sweet syndrome and seven episodes of generalized pustular eruption) and treated with acitretin. The median effective dose of acitretin was 10 mg/day. The mean initial response was 5.6 ± 2.3 days. The rash had almost or completely cleared within 2 weeks in 70.4% of patients. One case had developed a reversible acitretin-induced liver injury with hepatocellular pattern. The median total duration of treatment was 3 months. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential role of acitretin as one of the treatments of choice for reactive neutrophilic dermatoses in AOID, attributable to its favorable response and good tolerability.

Congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma: A rare neonatal dermatoses responding to acitretin.

Congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma is a rare and severe form of ichthyosis manifesting in the neonatal age group. We report a child with diffuse peeling of skin and erythroderma presenting on the 2nd day of birth. With aseptic nursing care along with emollients and oral acitretin, the child's quality of life improved remarkably, hence highlighting the point of early and judicious use of acitretin in reducing disease morbidity.

Use of Topical and Systemic Retinoids in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: Update and Review of the Current Literature.

BACKGROUND: Solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) are at an increased risk of epithelial malignancies, mainly squamous cell carcinoma, and its precursor lesions such as actinic keratoses, warts, and porokeratosis, which may respond to retinoid therapy. OBJECTIVE: To review the published evidence on the efficacy and safety of topical and systemic retinoids for the treatment and prophylaxis of malignant and premalignant conditions that mostly afflict SOTRs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Systematic review of the literature to summarize the level of evidence and grade of recommendation for retinoid therapy with emphasis in the SOTR population. RESULTS: Acitretin has the highest strength of recommendation (Grade A) for prophylaxis of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and treatment and prophylaxis of actinic keratoses in SOTR. In nonimmunosuppressed patients, acitretin and isotretinoin have a Grade B recommendation for treatment of recalcitrant warts. Topical retinoids have not shown efficacy in preventing NMSC in immunocompetent patients. CONCLUSION: Retinoids constitute a highly efficacious alternative for the management of the most common conditions that affect SOTRs. Acitretin has the most robust evidence for chemoprophylaxis in SOTRs. Knowledge about the specific indications and expected side effects of topical and systemic retinoids may help optimize their therapeutic potential.

Immunohistochemical evaluation of the effect of acitretin and systemic steroid treatments on Ki-67, Bcl-2, and COX-2 levels in cutaneous lichen planus patients.

BACKGROUND: Lichen planus (LP) is an inflammatory disease that affects skin, hair follicles, mucous membranes, and nails. Ki-67 is an antigen associated with the proliferation of cells in all stages of cell cycle except G0. Bcl-2 is a protooncogene that protects cells from apoptosis. COX-2 is an antiapoptotic protein that increases in inflammation. The infiltration of T cells in LP seems to be responsible in the apoptosis of the basal keratinocytes. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of prednisolone and acitretin treatments on Ki-67, Bcl-2, and COX-2 expression and apoptosis in patients with LP and the role of Ki-67, Bcl-2, and COX-2 proteins in LP. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with clinically and histopathologically diagnosed LP who had not been treated with systemic treatment before and 15 healthy volunteers were evaluated prospectively. Pretreatment and posttreatment biopsies were immunohistochemically stained with Ki-67, Bcl-2, and COX-2. The percentage of the stained cells were calculated and recorded. RESULTS: Although the percentage of staining with Ki-67 and Bcl-2 after treatment with prednisolone and acitretin decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in both groups, there was no significant difference between groups (P > 0.05). COX-2 decreased but was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: With this study in cutaneous lichen planus, prednisolone and acitretin treatments reduced Bcl-2 and Ki-67 levels and did not effect COX-2 levels. It should be clarified whether these results can be obtained with any treatment effective in cutaneous lichen planus.