Importance: Autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (ARCI) is a heterogeneous group of disorders caused by defects in signaling pathways involved in epidermal proliferation and differentiation, leading to a wide range of skin manifestations. Therapeutic options are limited and often unsatisfactory. Topical cholesterol and statin as a combined formulation has proven successful in the treatment of patients with CHILD syndrome (congenital hemidysplasia ichthyosis and limb defects).
Objective: To assess change in disease severity score after a 3-month therapeutic regimen consisting of a glycolic acid, 10% to 20%, cream and a combination cream of lovastatin, 2%, with cholesterol, 2%, in the treatment of ARCI.
Design, setting, and participants: This case series of 15 patients with ARCI was conducted at the American University of Beirut, a referral center in the Middle East region for genodermatoses, between May 2017 and January 2018. No age groups were excluded; all patients were from the Middle East area; and all were initially not responsive to treatment with hydrating creams in combination with urea creams, 30% to 40%, or glycolic acid, 10% to 20%. Excluded were patients who had been taking systemic retinoids within 3 months before the start of the study.
Interventions: A 3-month therapeutic regimen of glycolic acid, 10% to 20%, cream and a combination of lovastatin, 2%, with cholesterol, 2%, cream.
Main outcomes and measures: Percentage change in disease severity scores following 2 and 3 months of study treatment.
Results: Of the 15 patients included in the study, 10 were male (mean age, 11.2 years; age range, 2-38 years). The average percentage reduction in the disease severity score was 33.7% at 2 months (from 60.8 to 40.2) and 57.5% at 3 months (from 60.8 to 21.9). Adverse effects were mild and consisted mainly of irritation and burning.
Conclusions and relevance: These findings suggest a benefit from a treatment regimen consisting of glycolic acid, 10% to 20%, and a combination of lovastatin, 2%, with cholesterol, 2%, in the treatment of ARCI. This combination of creams might also prove to be beneficial in other types of ichthyoses and other dermatological diseases with a defective skin barrier.