Lymphomatoid papulosis--treatment with recombinant interferon alfa-2a and etretinate

Lymphomatoid papulosis is a rare cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorder with nodular, papulonecrotic or plaque-like lesions. Although it is clinically benign, the histology shows large, atypical lymphoid cells that display antigenic markers of activated T-helper lymphocytes and express CD30. There is a close relationship to Hodgkin's disease and to Ki-1-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma of the skin. For therapy, various modalities such as PUVA, steroids and acyclovir have been used. We report on a patient with a 10-year history of disease. Treatment with interferon alfa-2a, 3 MU 3 times/week for 4 weeks, and etretinate, 50 mg/day for 5 months, was initially successful, but lesions further relapsed 5 months after cessation of the therapy.