Comparative effect of isotretinoin and etretinate on acne and sebaceous gland secretion.
Isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid) was compared with the aromatic retinoid, etretinate, in patients with severe nodulocystic acne. Evaluation of fifty-six such men receiving 1 mg/kg of one or the other of these two drugs was performed with regard to clinical improvement and change in sebum production. Lesion counting demonstrated a significant improvement in patients receiving isotretinoin, particularly in facial lesions. There was significantly less improvement with etretinate. Similarly, isotretinoin produced a marked suppression of sebum production. There was little effect of etretinate on sebum production. Side effects were limited primarily to the skin and mucous membranes.
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005050:Etretinate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007536:Isomerism; D015474:Isotretinoin; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012627:Sebaceous Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D012629:Sebum / Q000378:metabolism*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014212:Tretinoin; D005050:Etretinate; D015474:Isotretinoin