title: Extensive spinal hyperostosis in a patient receiving isotretinoin--progression after 4 years of etretinate therapy.
abstract: A patient with Darier's disease was discovered to have persistent, asymptomatic cervical and thoracic spinal hyperostoses after receiving isotretinoin for 7 years. The spinal abnormalities have remained asymptomatic but have now progressed following 4 years of etretinate therapy. The development of skeletal abnormalities, in particular spinal hyperostosis, is well-documented in patients receiving the synthetic retinoid, isotretinoin (Accutane, Roaccutane). The occurrence of extraspinal tendon and ligament calcification has been emphasized following long-term therapy with etretinate (Tegison, Tigason), but the relationship between etretinate and spinal hyperostosis is less certain, there being a need for a long-term, prospective, appropriately controlled investigation of patients receiving etretinate. We report a patient with Darier's disease who was discovered to have prominent, asymptomatic cervical and thoracic spinal hyperostoses after receiving isotretinoin for 7 years. Subsequent treatment with etretinate for 4 years did not prevent progression of the spinal abnormalities.
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Archer
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Griffiths
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007644:Darier Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005050:Etretinate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D005050:Etretinate; D015474:Isotretinoin