https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9894-6372
Abstract
Purpose
Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a high prevalence in Saudi Arabia. Isotretinoin is used to treat severe, resistant nodulocystic acne. Side effects include joint discomfort, headache, mucosal dryness, and nose bleeds. Elevated lipids and liver enzymes have also been recorded. The study goal is to identify the prevalence of increased lipid levels during and after isotretinoin use.
Patients and Methods
This retrospective study was conducted in the dermatology polyclinic at King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. It included adults of different age groups diagnosed with acne vulgaris and treated with oral isotretinoin between January 2021 and December 2022. Parameters included baseline laboratory tests and follow-up laboratory results of cholesterol and triglycerides.
Results
Among 88 patients, 48.9% were aged 21–23 years, with females dominating. In total, 47.7% of patients started using isotretinoin at age 20 years or less, with starting doses ranging from 10 to 20 mg. Fifty percent of the patients had five months or more of treatment duration and only 6.8% of the patients had previously used isotretinoin. For the cholesterol and triglycerides, 87.5% of patients had normal pre-treatment with cholesterol and 90.9% with triglycerides, followed by 81.8% and 95.5% in the second reading, respectively. In the last reading, results were 77.3% for cholesterol and 94.3% for triglycerides.
Conclusion
The study found that most acne patients treated with isotretinoin had normal cholesterol and triglyceride levels at baseline, second, and last readings. The incidence of higher laboratory alterations was low, with 12.5% and 4.5% for cholesterol and triglycerides at baseline, and 18.2% and 3.4% at second, and 22.7% and 5.7% at last readings. Overall, age, gender, age of start of isotretinoin, isotretinoin dose, and previous use of isotretinoin are factors that could affect laboratory readings.
Data Sharing Statement
Data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Ethical Approval and Informed Consent
The study was approved by King Faisal University (protocol code No. KFU-REC-2023-FEB-ETHICS594 and date of 15 February 2023). All data were obtained with permission from the hospital with keeping patients’ confidentiality. This study complies with the Declaration of Helsinki.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank King Faisal University polyclinics for their support and assistance in the data collection process.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.