A 78 year-old man diagnosed with prurigo nodularis had itchy multiple erythematous to brownish papules on both flanks, chest, and back that were 6 months old. He had no underlying disease. Oral cyclosporine (50 mg/day) was taken for 1 year. His symptoms waxed and waned. In our study, oral alitretinoin (30 mg/day) was started. Within 2 weeks of treatment, the skin lesions and pruritus had improved. The patient was treated with oral alitretinoin for 14 weeks until complete remission and then the treatment was stopped without recurrence.
A 54 year-old man presented with multiple, 1 month-old, itchy erythematous maculopapular patches on both legs, both arms, and back, which were diagnosed as prurigo nodularis. He had no underlying disease. Treatment with oral cyclosporine (50 mg/day) was started. However, his blood pressure exceeded the hypertension borderline after 8 weeks of treatment even though he had no underlying hypertension. Therefore, the treatment was changed to oral alitretinoin (30 mg/day) for 2 weeks. His itching sensation was reduced after the treatment without recurrence.