Hypervitaminosis A syndrome: A paradigm of retinoid side effects

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Vol. 16; no. 5; pp. 1027 - 1039
• Main Authors: Silverman, Alan K., Ellis, Charles N., Voorhees, John J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.05.1987; Elsevier
• Subjects: Absorption; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Transport; Child; Chronic Disease; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Humans; Hypervitaminosis A - complications; Hypervitaminosis A - diagnosis; Hypervitaminosis A - etiology; Hypervitaminosis A - metabolism; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous (drug allergy, mutagens, teratogens...); Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Retinoids - adverse effects; Retinoids - metabolism; Tissue Distribution; Vitamin A - metabolism; Human; Hypervitaminosis; Skin disease; Retinoids; Toxicity; Retinol
• ISSN: 0190-9622; 1097-6787
• DOI: 10.1016/S0190-9622(87)70133-9

Retinoids have and will continue to revolutionize dermatologic therapy in a manner analogous to the development of topical corticosteroids. Isotretinoin, for example, has made nodulocystic scarring acne an eminently treatable condition. The dermatologic armamentarium now includes a powerful new agent, etretinate, which will radically change the approach to psoriasis (and other keratinizing disorders). Although each new retinoid is developed with the aim of maximizing specific therapeutic effects and minimizing toxicity, the fact remains that the major side effects of retinoid treatment are those of hypervitaminosis A syndrome. Optimal clinical utilization of new retinoids is best accomplished by an assessment of what is currently known about retinol absorption, metabolism and organ-specific effects, as well as by a thorough understanding of hypervitaminosis A syndrome. In this paper, hypervitaminosis A syndrome is reviewed as a paradigm of retinoid side effects. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1987;16:1027-39.)