Vitamin D Deficiency After Oral Retinoid Therapy for Ichthyosis

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dermatology
• Dermatology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Oral retinoids are a common treatment for pediatric ichthyotic disorders.
• Ichthyosis is a group of genetic skin disorders characterized by dry, scaling skin.

Observation:

• Two pediatric patients with ichthyotic disorders developed adverse effects while on oral retinoid therapy.
• A 10-year-old girl with nonbullous ichthyosiform erythroderma developed rickets.
• A 2-year-old girl with lamellar ichthyosis showed low vitamin D levels.

Findings:

• The patient with ichthyosiform erythroderma presented with rickets symptoms shortly after starting systemic retinoids.
• The patient with lamellar ichthyosis experienced vitamin D deficiency after six months of retinoid treatment.
• Vitamin D supplementation effectively normalized vitamin D levels in the second patient within two months.

Implications:

• These cases suggest a potential link between oral retinoid therapy and vitamin D deficiency in children with ichthyotic disorders.
• Proactive vitamin D monitoring and supplementation may be warranted when prescribing systemic retinoids for pediatric ichthyosis.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanism and prevalence of this adverse effect.