Treatment of ichthyosis.

Abstract

The results of treatment in 2 cases of ichthyosis in soldiers are presented in this paper. The report of Rapaport, Herman and Lehman 1 suggested a vitamin A deficiency as an etiologic factor of ichthyosis. High oral doses of vitamin A, 60,000 to 200,000 units daily, produced favorable clinical results in all the 6 patients treated. In 5 cases, biophotometric tests indicated vitamin A subnutrition. Rapaport suggested that the basis might be a hereditary disorder of vitamin A metabolism. Improvement with vitamin A was noted in one month and was progressive. When treatment was stopped there was regression. In 1 case in Rapaport's series there was no response to oral treatment, but considerable improvement was obtained with intramuscular injections of vitamin A. In this series bile salts did not improve visual dysadaptation. Another plan of treatment was reported by Ljungstrom. 2 This author