Comparative study of histopathological and immunohistochemical findings in skin biopsies from patients with psoriasis before and after treatment with acitretin

Abstract

Acitretin therapy improved histological and immunohistochemical features typical of psoriasis. In psoriasis, suprapapillary plates are not thin, but the epidermal/suprapapillary thickness ratio is increased. Basal cell layer is expanded in psoriasis. Langerhans' cells were less frequent after treatment, and that finding has to be investigated further to determine its role in acitretin mechanism of action.