Capillary leak syndrome induced by acitretin

Abstract

The mucocutaneous side-effects of systemic retinoids are well known. We report a patient with diffuse oedema, which is a very rare side-effect of retinoids. The pathophysiology of this condition is poorly known because of the rarity of relevant observations, but apparently corresponds to capillary leak syndrome. The outcome is invariably favourable following withdrawal of the drug, which should be definitively contraindicated in the patient.