Comparative Analysis of Two Retinoids in the Treatment of Disorders of Keratinization

Abstract

During the past decade synthetic derivatives of vitamin A have been introduced into dermatology for study of their therapeutic potential in cutaneous disorders of keratinization, cystic acne, and basal cell carcinoma. Initial emphasis has been placed on the treatment of psoriasis with an aromatic retinoid, the trimethylmethoxyphenyl derivative of ethyl retinoate (Ro 10-9359), either alone or in combination with other active agents (2, 4, 5,12). In 1976, 13-cis-retinoic acid, the first synthetic retinoid available for clinical testing in the United States, was found to be highly effective in the treatment of cystic acne, Darier’s disease, lamellar ichthyosis, chronic pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) and, to a lesser extent, psoriasis (7–9). It also had some therapeutic effects in basal cell carcinoma (10, 11). In 1978, Ro 10-9359 became available for testing in the United States and patients who initially were treated with ora113-cis retinoic acid were subsequently treated with the aromatic retinoid. In this report a retrospective comparative analysis of therapeutic and toxic effects of these two retinoids is made using data from 26 patients.