Retinol palmitate: possibilities of use in complex therapy of patients with chronic stage of true eczema

BACKGROUND: The chronic stage of true eczema is characterized by a significant violation of the skin's barrier function, which necessitates long-term, multi-component treatment. In cases of severe infiltration and lichenification, torpidity to therapy, the positive effects of including retinoids in the management regimens of patients with this pathology are described.

AIM: to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral retinol palmitate oil solution in the complex therapy of patients with chronic stage of true eczema.

METHODS: The study involved 60 patients with mild and moderate chronic stage of true eczema, who, depending on the therapy given, were divided into 2 groups of 30 people each (the main group and the comparison group). In both groups, patients were prescribed therapy, including topical calcineurin inhibitors, zinc pyrithione, liniment for naphthalan oil 10% and emollient with 10% urea. The patients of the main group were additionally prescribed an oral solution of «Retinol Palmitate». The effectiveness of treatment was assessed according to the dynamics of the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI)and the registration of the number of exacerbations before the start of therapy, on the 30th, 60th and 90th days of treatment.

RESULTS: Patients of both groups showed positive dynamics of the skin process (p<0.05) on the 30th day of therapy. At the same time, a more pronounced regression of symptoms was recorded in patients of the main group, in which the EASI values decreased by 77.0%, in the comparison group this parameter decreased by only 58.1% (p<0.05). The pronounced clinical effect was accompanied by a decrease in the effect of the disease on the quality of life of patients: DLQI in the main group decreased by 53.1%, in the comparison group the regression by 39.4% (p<0.05). Upon follow-up, the positive dynamics of disease symptoms remained, but did not significantly differ between the groups.

CONCLUSION: The inclusion of retinol palmitate oil solution for oral administration in the complex therapy of patients with chronic stage of true eczema is accompanied by an acceleration of regression of symptoms of the disease and an improvement in the quality of life of patients. External therapy using topical calcineurin inhibitors, zinc pyrithione, liniment for naphthalan oil 10% and emollient with 10% urea demonstrates sustained effectiveness throughout the course of therapy.