Efficacy of cyclosporine plus etretinate in the treatment of erythrodermic psoriasis (three case reports).

BACKGROUND

Association of different treatments are often used in erythrodermic psoriasis in order to increase the effectiveness and decrease the incidence of side effects due to single drugs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three in-patients affected by erythrodermic psoriasis, not responding to cyclosporine, (two patients) and etretinate, (one patient), were treated with the association cyclosporine plus etretinate.

RESULTS

Clinical response was prompt to the combined therapy. The two drugs were tapering off gradually over 6 months; the patients maintained the remission for prolonged period.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined cyclosporine-etretinate therapy may be considered as an effective and well tolerated treatment of erythrodermic psoriasis in patients not responding to monotherapy regimen.