PHARMACOKINETICS OF ACITRETIN

Acitretin, the metabolite of etretinate. is eliminated far more rapidl y from the human body than is etretinate. It has therefore been sugges ted that only a short period of contraception would be required follow ing the completion of long-term therapy. However, recent studies have demonstrated the presence of etretinate in the plasma of acitretin-tre ated patients, In this paper, we review the results of studies at our centre in view of the recently discovered metabolic pathways for acitr etin. Reesterification of acitretin to etretinate, however, results in a loss of the metabolic advantages of acitretin. Because of this new knowledge, the recommended contraception period after acitretin therap y has been lengthened to 2 years.