effect of systemic isotretinoin treatment on laboratory variables in patients with acne and a review of the literature

Objective: Isotretinoin (ISO) is a synthetic retinoid that is a preferred drug for unresponsive to conventional therapy in the treatment of severe cystic acne. In this study, to evaluate retrospectively laboratory values in patients with acne using oral ISO treatment was aimed. Methods: 40 patients were enrolled to the study that admitted to the dermatology clinic and clinically diagnosed as acne vulgaris and oral isotretinoin treatment was started. Patient’s retreatment and 3rd month of the teatment values of liver function tests (AST, ALT), blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride (TG) levels were obtained by screening of files. Results:Compared to values of patients before and 3rd month of treatment, statistically significant differences was detected for total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, TG and AST values (p<0.001, p<0.001, p= 0.003, p= 0.01, p=0.001 respectively). Conclusion: We think that starting a good diet before treatment would be useful to prevent TG disorder. In addition, we believe it would be useful to do strict laboratory follow in patients with familial hypertriglyceridemia during treatment. We believe that it is more necessary to follow up the blood lipid values rather than liver and kidney function tests. However, we also think that it would be sufficient to follow up once every 2 or 3 months.