In addition to well-accepted indications,
etretinate has a beneficial effect in a variety of other
dermatoses such as the hyperkeratotic
eczema of the palms and soles,
prurigo nodularis, and other nonpsoriatic, sterile, pustular eruptions. Due to its influence on dermal inflammatory processes and
immunomodulation of the tissue response,
etretinate is effective in
cutaneous lupus erythematosus, certain bullous disorders like
pemphigus herpetiformis, the persistent variant of
Grover's disease,
dermatitis herpetiformis, and
bullous pemphigoid.
Isotretinoin is reported to be effective in cutaneous
sarcoidosis, disseminated
granuloma annulare,
systemic sclerosis and
tumors of the cutaneous appendages. New synthetic
retinoids have been developed.
Etretin, the main metabolite of
etretinate, was shown to be effective and to have a short elimination half-life of approximately equal to 50 h.
Arotinoid ethyl ester and arotinoid-free
carboxylic acid are effective in minimal doses 500-fold lower than
etretinate.
Arotinoid ethyl ester was shown not to increase serum
lipids. Arotinoid ethyl
sulfone is the first
retinoid without bone toxicity in animal experiments.
Motretinide is the ethylamide of
tretinoin and is reported to be effective in the local treatment of
acne. Some of the new polyaromatic
retinoids appear to have sebosuppressive, antikeratinizing and/or anti--inflammatory effects via topical application.