Is it necessary to have routine blood tests in patients treated with isotretinoin?
OBJECTIVE
Several side effects can be observed from isotretinoin use, which has been used in acne therapy for years. In this study, the side effects of isotretinoin on skin and mucosa, blood test changes and their relation with total dose were investigated in patients who used equal doses of isotretinoin.


METHODS
A total of 91 outpatients with acne vulgaris (57 females and 34 males; age range 17-28 years, mean 21+/-2.19 years) were enrolled in this study. Skin and mucosal findings and pre- and post-treatment blood tests and their correlation with the total dose were investigated. Student's t-test and the Mann-Whitney U-test were used in the statistical analyses.


RESULTS
In all, 89 out of 91 patients completed the study. Cholesterol (p = 0.00), triglyceride (p = 0.00) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) (p = 0.001) levels were found to be significantly elevated. But these values were not over the double of the upper limits. No correlations were found among the total dose and the skin and mucosal changes as well as the blood test results.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that examination of cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol should be performed monthly if the initial blood tests are close to the upper limits; otherwise, examinations at 2- or 3-month intervals are sufficient, which would save unnecessary costs.
Ertam
Ilgen
I
Department of Dermatology, Medical Faculty, Ege University, Bornova-Izmir, Turkey. iertam@yahoo.com
Alper
Sibel
S
Unal
Idil
I
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D016482:Urinalysis
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D015474:Isotretinoin