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Long‐term safety of isotretinoin as a treatment for acne vulgaris
Author(s) -
GOULDEN V.,
LAYTON A.M.,
CUNLIFFE W.J.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1994.tb08524.x
Subject(s) - isotretinoin , medicine , acne , cumulative dose , mucocutaneous zone , exacerbation , dermatology , cumulative incidence , surgery , pediatrics , disease , transplantation
Summary We assessed possible long‐term side‐effects of isotretinoin therapy in 720 patients who had received one or more courses of treatment, and had a mean follow‐up period of 4.9 years (range 2?12 years). Most patients (442) had received a total cumulative dose of 120?200 mg/kg body weight. One hundred and sixty‐two patients received a cumulative dose of <120 mg/kg body weight, and 116 received a cumulative dose <200 mg/kg. Fifty‐two patients (7.2%) reported persistent symptoms during the follow‐up period. No correlation was found between age, sex, cumulative dose, or number of courses of isotretinoin and occurrence of reported possible side‐effects. The reported symptoms were predominantly musculoskeletal (2%) or mucocutaneous (4.8%), and were mild in all cases. Xeroderma, dry eye syndrome, arthralgia, and possible exacerbation of eczema, were considered to be infrequent but probable long‐term side‐effects. The findings of this study indicate that isotretinoin in the treatment of acne is a safe drug, with no serious long‐term side‐effects.