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Low‐cumulative dose isotretinoin treatment in mild‐to‐moderate acne: efficacy in achieving stable remission
Author(s) -
Borghi A.,
Mantovani L.,
Minghetti S.,
Giari S.,
Virgili A.,
Bettoli V.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of the european academy of dermatology and venereology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.655
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1468-3083
pISSN - 0926-9959
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2010.03933.x
Subject(s) - medicine , isotretinoin , acne , cumulative dose , regimen , adapalene , cumulative incidence , dermatology , prospective cohort study , incidence (geometry) , surgery , cohort , benzoyl peroxide , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , optics , polymerization , polymer
Background Aimed at the reduction of post‐treatment relapse of severe acne, the cumulative dose of oral isotretinoin should be ≥120 mg/kg. However, data on the appropriate oral isotretinoin treatment regimen in mild and moderate acne are lacking. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of an isotretinoin‐sparing protocol in inducing permanent remission of mild and moderate acne. Methods In this open, prospective, non‐comparative study, 150 patients affected with mild‐to‐moderate acne were treated with isotretinoin until complete recovery and for a further month of treatment, independent of the total cumulative dose reached. Patients then underwent a 1‐year maintenance therapy with adapalene 0.1% cream. Patients were followed up for a further year, without any treatment. Results A total of 139 patients completed the study. Overall, patients received a mean of 80.92 mg/kg cumulative dose of isotretinoin. In the 2‐year follow‐up, relapse only appeared in 13 patients (9.35%). Conclusion Comparing our findings with published data, this isotretinoin‐sparing regimen was shown to be effective in inducing stable remission and preventing acne relapses in patients with mild‐to‐moderate acne. Low‐cumulative dose regimens may potentially lead to a lower incidence of side‐effects and to lower costs than higher doses.