Publikation

Oral, esophageal and cutaneous lichen ruber planus controlled with alitretinoin: case report and review of the literature

Wissenschaftlicher Artikel/Review - 15.08.2013

Bereiche
PubMed
DOI

Zitation
Kolios A, Marques Maggio E, Gubler C, Cozzio A, Dummer R, French L, Navarini A. Oral, esophageal and cutaneous lichen ruber planus controlled with alitretinoin: case report and review of the literature. Dermatology (Basel) 2013; 226:302-10.
Art
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel/Review (Englisch)
Zeitschrift
Dermatology (Basel) 2013; 226
Veröffentlichungsdatum
15.08.2013
eISSN (Online)
1421-9832
Seiten
302-10
Kurzbeschreibung/Zielsetzung

BACKGROUND
Therapy-resistant lichen planus (LP) can be a challenging condition for dermatologists. There are some case reports about successful treatments with alitretinoin of cutaneous and oral, but not of esophageal LP.

OBJECTIVE
We present the unique case of a patient with cutaneous, oral and esophageal LP which was refractory to classical treatment options (topical clobetasol propionate and pimecrolimus, intramuscular triamcinolone acetonide); because of systemic side effects the patient did not tolerate systemic acitretin dosed up to 25 mg daily.

METHODS
Oral alitretinoin was used at a dose of 30 mg daily.

RESULTS
Both oral and skin changes as well as dysphagia completely resolved within 4 weeks without any severe side effects and the drug was used for 6 months. No papules, intraoral striae or dysphagia recurred during the 6 months of treatment. After 4 months the patient relapsed with mucosal patches so that a second cycle was initiated for 6 months where oral LP lesions resolved after 4 weeks also (with sporadic mild headache).

CONCLUSION
Further studies are needed to better understand the impact of alitretinoin in LP. Our observation suggests alitretinoin as a new, well-tolerated treatment option for esophageal LP after failed response to conventional treatments.