Combination therapy with acitretin for psoriasis

J Dermatolog Treat. 2006;17(2):108-11. doi: 10.1080/09546630600632984.

Abstract

Numerous therapies exist for the treatment of psoriasis. A complete understanding of the benefits and potential risks of all therapeutic options is requisite in selecting an appropriate regimen for each patient. This paper examines the effectiveness of combination therapy with acitretin in treating difficult cases of psoriasis, which may require systemic medication or phototherapy. Combination therapy is often more effective than any single agent, as medications with different mechanisms of action work synergistically. Furthermore, using lower doses of two treatments in combination can minimize the potential side effects from a single agent at a higher dose.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acitretin / administration & dosage*
  • Adult
  • Alefacept
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Etanercept
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / administration & dosage
  • Keratolytic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Male
  • Methotrexate / administration & dosage
  • PUVA Therapy
  • Psoriasis / drug therapy*
  • Psoriasis / pathology
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / administration & dosage
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Severity of Illness Index

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Keratolytic Agents
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Alefacept
  • Acitretin
  • Etanercept
  • efalizumab
  • Methotrexate