Reduction of increased polyamine levels in psoriatic lesions by retinoid and PUVA treatments

Treatment with an oral aromatic retinoid (etretinate) and with PUVA significantly reduced the elevated levels of putrescine, spermidine and spermine in psoriatic lesions. Both treatments also significantly reduced the spermidine/spermine ratio, which is considered to be an indicator of proliferation activity. Although both regimens produced a roughly parallel reduction of epidermal polyamines the initial fall of putrescine was much more rapid in patients receiving retinoid. This may indicate that one of the primary targets of retinoids could be ornithine decarboxylase.