Annular pustular psoriasis in a 14-month-old girl: a therapeutic challenge

Pharmacological Management of Pediatric Pustular Psoriasis

Therapeutic management of pustular psoriasis remains a challenge despite the rapid advance in psoriasis research and the development of drugs, especially biologics. Treatment guidelines have been established for pustular psoriasis, but no controlled studies are present for juvenile pustular psoriasis (JPP). Search of the literature reveals that current evidence of JPP treatment is limited to case reports and case series. Among the conventional drugs for JPP, oral retinoid is the most commonly used, yet concerns for growth disturbance exist. Cyclosporine and methotrexate have also been administered as first-line treatment. Etanercept is the first biological agent approved for juvenile plaque psoriasis, followed by adalimumab. However, infliximab is usually recommended for JPP because of the rapidity of onset, despite not being approved for use in pediatric psoriasis patients. More recently, secukinumab, ixekizumab, brodalumab, guselkumab, and risankizumab have been approved for adult pustular psoriasis in selected countries. Controlled studies are needed to prove the efficacy and long-term safety of the therapeutic treatments currently used for JPP.

Management of pediatric psoriasis with acitretin: A review

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin which can occur at any age-group. Psoriasis in childhood is not uncommon and has genetic susceptibility but usually, an environmental trigger such as infection is thought to initiate the disease process. Pediatric psoriasis has profound effects on both physical and psychosocial health of the patient. Treatment of mild psoriasis can be done with topical therapies but those which do not respond to topical therapies can be treated with phototherapy and systemic therapies. The use of systemic therapies in childhood is mainly based on the published data, case series, expert opinion and the experience as there is the lack of controlled trials in the age group. Based on the experience retinoids are probably the second line drugs for the treatment of pediatric psoriasis which do not respond to topical therapies and phototherapy. Using acitretin in a low dose and with proper physical examinations and laboratory investigations will reduce the hazard of potential serious adverse events. This article gives the review of the use of acitretin in pediatric psoriasis.