Background: Lichen planus is a skin disease that may last for years, mainly affecting the skin surface and mucous membranes (such as the oral and genital mucosa), and more rarely, on the nails and hairs. Systemic acitretin is an effective therapeutic agent used in the treatment of lichen planus. The skeletal toxicity of retinoids is controversial. Because skeletal toxicity cannot be demonstrated with acitretin, radiological monitoring is not recommended.
Case Report: A 24-year-old male patient was admitted to our dermatology outpatient clinic with hand metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal joint swelling, and pain, who was in the third month of systemic acitretin treatment for oral lichen planus. In our case, another cause of etiologic could not be detected, and arthritis due to acitretin was considered.
Conclusion: As a result, it should not be forgotten that acute arthritis may rarely occur during the use of acitretin and should not be overlooked by the clinician