Etretinate (Tigason) Hepatitis in 2 Patients

Abstract

A histologically confirmed, clinically inapparent and reversible hepatitis occurred in 2 patients (1 psoriasis, 1 basal cell nevus syndrome) within the first months after introduction of etretinate therapy. Causes of hepatitis other than etretinate were not found. Reintroduction of etretinate resulted in reactivation and/or persistance of the hepatitis in both patients. These data strongly suggest that the hepatitis in both patients was caused by etretinate. Later the basal cell nevus syndrome patient was given 13-cis-retinoic acid, which caused no liver test disturbances during a follow-up period of 6 months.

A Case of Hepatitis Related to Etretinate Therapy and Hepatitis B Vaccine

“…With the exception of 2 cases [6. 13], patients reported with etretinate-associated hepatitis have been middle-aged or elderly females [4,5,7,9,14,15], That case, a 39-year-old male who had previously received methotrexate, was HLA-A1, as was our patient.…”

Differential hepatotoxicity of two oral retinoids (etretinate and isotretinoin) in a patient with palmoplantar psoriasis

“…Thirdly. the fact that the run�lionally c1ose1y retated compounct isotretinoin produced no apparent hepatic reaction (although other side-effects were noted) indicates that the etretinate-associated hepatitis was due to a drug specific, idiosyncratic reaction which has also been noted by van Voorst-Vader et al (5). Fourthly, slight to moderate structural and functional abnormali ties of the !iver may persist after etretinate-induced hepatotoxicity.…”

Generalized Pustular Psoriasis in a Child

“…Literature regarding hepatotoxicity of etretinate is con flicting. Recently, Van Voorst Vader et al [15] reported hepatitis in 2 patients within the first months after introduction of etreti nate therapy. Etretinate has been shown to induce occasionally transient increases in transaminases (for example Mahrle et al [7]).…”