13-cis-retinoic acid and bone density.
BACKGROUND
13-Cis-retinoic acid has an influence on bone in patients on long-term treatment as well as on short-term treatment. The presence of skeletal abnormalities after the treatment was established by roentgenologic and scintigraphic examinations. We wanted to know whether a 6-month course of low-dose 13-cis-retinoic acid has a clinically important influence on bone density in men with severe acne.


METHODS
We examined 15 men with severe acne before and after treatment with 13-cis-retinoic acid by dual-photon absorptiometry of the lumbar spine.


RESULTS
The mean increase in bone density was 3.0% (95% confidence interval 1.3-4.5), which is normal for the period from puberty to late twenties. Bone density increased in 13 of our 15 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
As shown by this highly sensitive modern densitometric method, 13-cis-retinoic acid has no clinically important influence on bone density in male patients with severe acne.
Department of Dermatology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia.
M
M
Kocijancic
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty; D011868:Radioisotopes
D011868:Radioisotopes; D005682:Gadolinium; D015474:Isotretinoin