Vitamin E does not reduce the side-effects of isotretinoin in the treatment of acne vulgaris.
BACKGROUND
Isotretinoin is widely used in the treatment of severe, recalcitrant, nodular acne. Mucocutaneous side-effects are seen in the great majority of patients and some of them have elevations in their serum lipid and liver enzyme profiles. Recently, it has been shown that addition of vitamin E decreased the toxicity of high-dose retinoids.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this investigator-blinded, randomized study was to assess whether vitamin E would reduce the side-effects of isotretinoin in the treatment of acne vulgaris.


METHODS
Eighty two patients were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups with isotretinoin (1 mg/kg/day) alone or combined with vitamin E (800 IU/day). The treatment duration was 16 weeks. Mucocutaneous side-effects such as facial erythema, facial dryness, cheilitis and serum lipid and liver enzyme profiles were assessed.


RESULTS
There was no difference in the incidence and severity of side-effects related to isotretinoin between the two treatment groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Eight hundred IU/day vitamin E did not improve the side-effects of 1 mg/kg/day of isotretinoin in the treatment of acne vulgaris.
Kus
Sadiye
S
Department of Dermatology, Marmara University School of Medicine, Altunizade, Turkey.
Gün
Dilek
D
Demirçay
Zeynep
Z
Sur
Haydar
H
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D014810:Vitamin E; D015474:Isotretinoin