title: Low-cumulative dose isotretinoin treatment in mild-to-moderate acne: efficacy in achieving stable remission.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aimed at the reduction of post-treatment relapse of severe acne, the cumulative dose of oral isotretinoin should be ≥120 mg/kg. However, data on the appropriate oral isotretinoin treatment regimen in mild and moderate acne are lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of an isotretinoin-sparing protocol in inducing permanent remission of mild and moderate acne.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this open, prospective, non-comparative study, 150 patients affected with mild-to-moderate acne were treated with isotretinoin until complete recovery and for a further month of treatment, independent of the total cumulative dose reached. Patients then underwent a 1-year maintenance therapy with adapalene 0.1% cream. Patients were followed up for a further year, without any treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 139 patients completed the study. Overall, patients received a mean of 80.92 mg/kg cumulative dose of isotretinoin. In the 2-year follow-up, relapse only appeared in 13 patients (9.35%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comparing our findings with published data, this isotretinoin-sparing regimen was shown to be effective in inducing stable remission and preventing acne relapses in patients with mild-to-moderate acne. Low-cumulative dose regimens may potentially lead to a lower incidence of side-effects and to lower costs than higher doses.
authors.affiliation: Section of Dermatology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borghi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minghetti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giari
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Virgili
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bettoli
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000068816:Adapalene; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D009281:Naphthalenes; D000068816:Adapalene; D015474:Isotretinoin