Bexarotene Shows Promise In Patients With Psoriasis

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Bexarotene, a synthetic RXR-selective retinoid used to treat cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, also has anti-psoriatic properties, Dutch researchers report in the August issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

In a phase II clinical trial involving 50 patients with severe psoriatic plaques, Dr. Jurgen V. Smit of the University Medical Center in Nijmegen and colleagues investigated the safety, tolerability and effectiveness of oral bexarotene given in doses ranging from 0.5 to 3.0 mg/kg per day. Patients received treatment for 12 to 24 weeks.

A 50% or more improvement in scores on a modified psoriasis area and severity index, was seen in 22% of subjects. The corresponding proportion for plaque elevation was 52% and by physician's global assessment, 36%. No dose-response effects were observed for these parameters.

There were no serious adverse effects and the drug was well tolerated in most patients, according to the researchers. The most frequent side effects were hypertriglyceridemia (in 56% of patients) and decreased serum free T4 levels (in 54%).

Given these encouraging findings, the authors call for further studies "to assess the optimal dose and potential for bexarotene as a new therapy for psoriasis."

Source: J Am Acad Dermatol 2004; 51:249-256. [ Google search on this article ]