Prospective study of risk factors of relapse after treatment of acne with oral isotretinoin.
BACKGROUND
The effectiveness of oral isotretinoin against acne is undeniable. However, few data on the maintenance of effect after treatment termination have been published.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to identify the risk factors of relapse after stopping isotretinoin.


METHODS
This prospective open study examined 52 patients with moderate to severe acne at the Dermatological Clinic of the Nantes University Hospital (France). Variables likely to influence relapse were studied using the Cox model.


RESULTS
27 patients (52%) relapsed after stopping treatment. In multivariate analysis, severe seborrhoea and a high score of inflammatory lesions at the end of the treatment, an early age, a family history of acne, prepubertal acne and acne extended to the trunk were the factors increasing significantly the risk of relapse.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data allow to define more precisely the profile of acne patients for whom the risk of relapse is highest and who should therefore be followed up quite regularly after treatment termination.
Department of Dermatology, Hôtel-Dieu, Nantes University Hospital, Place Alexis-Recordeau, FR-44035 Nantes Cedex 1, France.
G
G
Quéreux
C
C
Volteau
J M
JM
N'Guyen
B
B
Dréno
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015474:Isotretinoin