title: Retinoid-induced ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.
abstract: Vitamin A and its synthetic congeners are known to produce a variety of skeletal abnormalities in patients on prolonged treatment with these medications. Two patients are described who developed posterior longitudinal ligament ossification following treatment with the synthetic retinoid 13-cis-retinoic acid. In both cases, this finding became apparent after other retinoid-induced skeletal abnormalities were observed and was less marked than the ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament. Although spinal cord compression did not occur in our patients, patients on long-term retinoid therapy should be carefully observed for this complication.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007057:Ichthyosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D015474:Isotretinoin; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000187:drug effects*; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013131:Spine; D013997:Time Factors; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014212:Tretinoin; D015474:Isotretinoin