title: Adverse effects of isotretinoin: A large, retrospective review.
abstract: Acne is a very common and disfiguring disease that affects mostly adolescents and, to some extent, adults. The objective of our study was to estimate the adverse effects after isotretinoin by treatment of 3,525 patients due to acne vulgaris in a 5-year observation. Retrospective, comparative study was carried out in Poland and Romania from January 2012 to August 2016. Inclusion criteria into this study were moderate, severe, and nodulocystic inflammatory acne vulgaris. Exclusion criteria were mild acne, pregnant, and lactating women. Statistical analysis was carried out using T test and Chi square. All patients were treated with oral isotretinoin. Patient age ranged from 13-35 years. Dry lips was the most commonly reported adverse effect, affecting 100% of users, followed by xerosis (94.97%) and facial erythema (66.21%). Of all adverse effects, psychiatric symptoms accounted for 25.16%; eye lesions accounted for 8.96%. In lab investigations an increase in the level of total cholesterol and serum triglycerides was observed. This study documents the adverse effect profile of isotretinoin in a large number of patients collected over a period of 4 years. Side effects were mild and well tolerated and did not necessitate stopping the treatment. However, it is important to educate patients about this potential consequence.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology and Environmental Protection, Pomeranian Academy, ul. Arciszewskiego 22A, Slupsk, 76-200, Poland.|Department of Dermatology, 6th Military Support Unit, Ustka, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6817-606X
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brzezinski
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology with Experimental Cytology Unit, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Borowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermato-Physiology, Apollonia University Iasi, Strada Muzicii nr 2, Iasi, 700399, Romania.|Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Apollonia University, Nicolina Medical Center "Petru Poni,", Iasi, Romania.
authors.forename: Anca
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiriac
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Healthy Ageing Research Centre (HARC), Medical University of Lodz, Pl. Hallera 1, Lodz, 90-647, Poland.
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smigielski
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D015474:Isotretinoin
keywords: 13-cis-retinoic acid; acne; efficacy; isotretinoin; side effects