title: Effects of isotretinoin treatment on sleep in patients with severe acne: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are a few case reports in literature that isotretinoin treatment may alter sleep architecture. Also studies in mice suggest a role of retinoids in the contribution of delta oscillations to the sleep electroencephalography.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of isotretinoin treatment on sleep architecture using polysomnography (PSG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve severe acne vulgaris patients without any psychiatric and sleep disorders were treated with 0.5 mg/kg of isotretinoin. Clinician-administered acne questionnaire, psychiatric examination, Epworth sleepiness scale and PSG recordings were performed after the first month of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sleep efficiency was increased from 83.5% (62.8-89.0%, quartiles) to 89.5% (81.5-93.5%, quartiles; P = 0.036) and sleep latency decreased from 18.0 min (11.1-36.3, quartiles) to 15.5 min (9.3-19.0, quartiles; P = 0.023) following 1-month isotretinoin treatment. There were no significant changes in other sleep parameters of PSG and scores of Epworth sleepiness scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that isotretinoin treatment slightly improves night-time sleep without any effects on sleep stages and daytime sleepiness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Erciyes University Medical Faculty, Kayseri, Turkey. sevdademirci@yahoo.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ismailogullari
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferahbas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aksu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baydemir
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Utas
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017286:Polysomnography; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D015474:Isotretinoin