[Oral treatment of great ichthyotic disorders by ethylester retinoid (author's transl)]

Observations of 3 different great ichthyotic disorders, no longer responding to local keratolytics and to oral vitamin A are reported: a case of erythrokeratoderma variabilis, one of ichthyosiform erythroderma, and one of bullous ichthyosiform hyperkeratosis. After a week of oral treatment by the ethylester retinoid (Ro 10-9359), the hyperkeratotic component of each disease already improved dramatically. A maintenance treatment had to be continued. With equal or superior keratolytic effects, the retinoid has lower toxicity and less important side-effects than retinoic acid itself. The ethylester retinoid is nowadays the choice oral treatment in these great hyperkeratotic disorders.