title: Functional brain imaging alterations in acne patients treated with isotretinoin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although there have been case reports suggesting a relationship between treatment with the acne medication isotretinoin and the development of depression and suicide, this topic remains controversial. In order for isotretinoin to cause depression, it must have an effect on the brain; however, the effects of isotretinoin on brain functioning in acne patients have not been established. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of isotretinoin on brain functioning in acne patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Brain functioning in adults was measured with [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography before and after 4 months of treatment with isotretinoin (N=13) or an antibiotic (N=15).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Isotretinoin but not antibiotic treatment was associated with decreased brain metabolism in the orbitofrontal cortex (-21% change versus 2% change for antibiotic), a brain area known to mediate symptoms of depression. There were no differences in the severity of depressive symptoms between the isotretinoin and antibiotic treatment groups before or after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that isotretinoin treatment is associated with changes in brain functioning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory Center for Positron Emission Tomography, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA. jdbremn@emory.edu
authors.forename: J Douglas
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bremner
authors.forename: Negar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fani
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Votaw
authors.forename: Marijn E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Brummer
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cummins
authors.forename: Viola
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vaccarino
authors.forename: Mark M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: Lai
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Sajid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siddiq
authors.forename: Charles B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Nemeroff
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000378:metabolism; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D015474:Isotretinoin; D005947:Glucose