Evaluation of the effect of isotretinoin on salivary gland function by Tc-99m pertechnetate imaging in acne vulgaris patients.
OBJECTIVE
Isotretinoin is an effective drug utilized in the management of acne vulgaris and is known to cause dry mouth. In this study, we aimed to evaluate this effect of isotretinoin on the salivary gland function in patients with acne vulgaris using technetium-99m (Tc-99m) pertechnetate imaging of the salivary glands.


METHODS
The study population consisted of 28 patients with acne vulgaris (6 males and 22 females, mean age 20.2 ± 2.3 years), who were treated with isotretinoin for 6 months. We performed radionuclide imaging of the salivary glands pretreatment and at months 3 and 6 of treatment. After 185 MBq (5 mCi) of Tc-99m pertechnetate was intravenously administered, imaging of the salivary glands was performed over a 25-min period. We measured the following glandular function parameters for the parotid and submandibular salivary glands via time-activity curves: uptake ratio, maximum accumulation, and ejection fraction.


RESULTS
Statistically significant differences were observed in the values obtained at months 3 and 6 of treatment, compared with the pretreatment values.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that radionuclide imaging of the salivary glands can clearly show the glandular functions that are affected by drugs such as isotretinoin.
Ebru
E
Örsal
Bedri
B
Seven
Mustafa Teoman
MT
Erdem
Erhan
E
Varoğlu
Hatice
H
Farimaz
Arif Kürşad
AK
Ayan
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D055815:Young Adult
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D015474:Isotretinoin