Erythroderma in a Patient Taking Acitretin for Plaque Psoriasis

Acitretin is a second generation retinoid used in the treatment of psoriasis. It has shown particular efficacy in the treatment of pustular or erythrodermic psoriasis. A case of a patient who was being treated for plaque psoriasis with acitretin, who subsequently developed erythrodermic psoriasis is reported. The patient’s erythroderma promptly resolved after discontinuing acitretin and initiating treatment with cyclosporine. Acitretin has been reported to induce erythrodermic psoriasis on occasion, but is more frequently reported as a treatment for it.