Oral treatment of ichthyosis with an aromatic retinoid

An aromatic retinoid (Ro-10/9359) was used for oral treatment of five cases of ichthyosis (three lamellar, two X-linked. Complete clearing of the skin lesions was achieved in all five patients within 24.2 +/- 3.2 days (X-linked 21.75 +/- 6.5, lamellar 23 days). Histopathology showed reduction of the hyperkeratosis, and thickening of the granular layer. Clinical side effects were of mild intensity and included cheilitis, conjunctivitis and pruritus. All side effects were reversible upon reduction of the daily dosage. In three patients treatment was discontinued after clearing of lesions. Fresh lesions re-appeared 6 weeks later. One patient with X-linked ichthyosis developed two recurrences during maintenance treatment; one patient with lamellar ichthyosis was kept in complete remission for 9 weeks on a reduced daily dosage.