Etretinate. Appropriate use in severe psoriasis.

Abstract

Etretinate is a synthetic retinoid that has been shown to be effective for several types of psoriasis in numerous studies, including severe recalcitrant plaque psoriasis and erythrodermic and generalized pustular psoriasis. 1-10 The drug has recently been approved by the Food and Drug administration for these types of psoriasis. We would like to discuss the appropriate use of this drug in severe forms of psoriasis, and to comment on some of the contents of the editorial "Etretinate and Psoriasis" that was authored by Warwick L. Morison, MD, and published in the July 1987 issue of theArchives. 11 We feel that the attempts to educate the dermatologist in the selection of patients and use of this agent have been appropriate. It would have been remiss for this agent to have been made available for prescription without a carefully organized educational endeavor to ensure the correct use of this drug. See