title: Isotretinoin therapy: any need for laboratory assessment?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently studies showed the no need for laboratory follow up of patients on isotretinoin therapy. The aim of this study is to assess this issue.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study on-400 patients was performed to analyze the laboratory data before and after isotretinoin therapy of acne vulgaris patients. All patients received isotretinoin at a dose of 1mg/kg for 20 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AST was elevated in 25/400(6.25 %), ALT was elevated in 10/400(2.5 %). Cholesterol was elevated in 55/400(13.75%). Triglycerides were elevated in 20/400(5 %).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study supports the previous evidence for the no need for performing laboratory investigations for patients on isotretinoin therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Ablia, Saudi Arabia. tm151@hotmail.com
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tallab
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Joharji
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jazei
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bahamdan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karkashan
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D015474:Isotretinoin