Abstract
IntroductionTwo cases of impotence following a treatment with etretinate have been reported in the literature. Acitretin is the principal active metabolite of etretinate. We report a case of erectile dysfunction associated with the use of acitretin.Case presentationA 39-year-old Caucasian man referred his incapacity to reach and maintain a penile erection during a course of acitretin for the treatment of a severe form of psoriasis. Physical examination, laboratory findings and psychological analysis did not reveal any abnormalities. Two weeks after the withdrawal of acitretin, the patient reported a normalization of his sexual activity.ConclusionRetinoids have been associated with male reproductive system dysfunctions in human and animal studies. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of acitretin-induced erectile dysfunction.
Highlights
Two cases of impotence following a treatment with etretinate have been reported in the literature
Retinoids have been associated with male reproductive system dysfunctions in human and animal studies
Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of acitretin-induced erectile dysfunction
Summary
Acitretin is a synthetic aromatic retinoid used to treat dermatologic diseases, especially psoriasis and related skin disorders. The patient had no history of tobacco or alcohol use and he had not undergone major surgery He was not taking drugs and his routine blood tests, hepatitis markers, coagulation parameters, thyroid function and chest radiography were normal. After histological examinations, he started a treatment with acitretin 25 mg/die. We hypothesized a role of acitretin in the genesis of the erectile dysfunction, we decided to withdraw the drug with the consent of the patient After two weeks he reported a normalization of his sexual activity and decided not to start a new course of acitretin despite the worsening of his psoriatic lesions. Patients are reluctant to report sexual dysfunctions during their contacts with practitioners, it is likely that the incidence of similar effects may result underestimated
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