Generalized pustular psoriasis in a child: observation of long-term combination therapy with etretinate and calcipotriol for 16 years

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare condition in young children. It is difficult to treat and may require long-term systemic therapy. We report the long-term course of a 3-year-old boy whose onset of psoriasis dated to age 7 months. He was treated with etretinate and psoralen plus ultraviolet A therapy initially and then with etretinate alone, and at age 12, topical calcipotriol was added. At the age of 19, he had been taking oral retinoids for 16 years, with a mean dose of etretinate of 0.22 mg/kg per day, a total amount of approximately 37 g, without evidence of stunted growth, ligamentous calcification, hyperostosis, or hepatic toxicity.