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Paichitrojjana A, Paichitrojjana A. Oral Isotretinoin and Its Uses in Dermatology: A Review. Drug Des Devel Ther 2023; 17:2573-2591. [PMID: 37649956 PMCID: PMC10464604 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s427530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In 1982, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States of America approved isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid), a retinoid derivative of vitamin A, to treat severe recalcitrant acne vulgaris. Apart from its prescribed use for severe acne, evidence suggests that isotretinoin is commonly used off-label to treat mild-to-moderate acne, inflammatory skin conditions, genodermatoses, skin cancer, and other skin disorders. This is due to its anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antineoplastic properties. Some "off-label" use is successful, while others are ineffective. Therefore, this information is essential to clinicians for deciding on the appropriate use of isotretinoin. In this article, we aim to review the most updated evidence-based data about the use of oral isotretinoin in dermatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anon Paichitrojjana
- School of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine, Mae Fah Luang University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Anand Paichitrojjana
- Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Chu S, Michelle L, Ekelem C, Sung CT, Rojek N, Mesinkovska NA. Oral isotretinoin for the treatment of dermatologic conditions other than acne: a systematic review and discussion of future directions. Arch Dermatol Res 2020; 313:391-430. [PMID: 33151346 DOI: 10.1007/s00403-020-02152-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
While isotretinoin has been the gold-standard of therapy for severe acne since its approval in 1982, its anti-inflammatory properties makes it a potentially applicable and versatile therapy for a wide variety of dermatologic conditions yet to be explored. This systematic review comprehensively recounts the success of oral isotretinoin in non-acne cutaneous diseases and provide insight into future directions of isotretinoin utility. A systematic literature review was performed using PubMed. Search terms included "isotretinoin" OR "accutane" AND "skin" OR "dermatology" OR "hair" OR "nails" OR "rosacea" OR "psoriasis" OR "pityriasis rubra pilaris" OR "condyloma acuminata" OR "granuloma annulare" OR "darier's disease" OR "non-melanoma skin cancer" OR "frontal fibrosing alopecia" OR "cutaneous lupus erythematosus" OR "hidradenitis suppurativa" OR "photodamaged skin" OR "skin aging" OR "wart" OR "flat warts" OR "plane warts" OR "lichen planus" OR "dissecting cellulitis" OR "folliculitis decalvans" OR "sebaceous hyperplasia" OR "cutaneous t-cell lymphoma" OR "mycosis fungoides." A total of 169 studies discuss the use of oral isotretinoin for 16 non-acne dermatologic conditions, the most common being non-melanoma skin cancers (0.2-8.2 mg/kg/day), cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (0.5-2 mg/kg/day), and rosacea (0.22-1 mg/kg/day). Inflammatory conditions such as rosacea, granuloma annulare, and hidradenitis suppurativa benefit from lower oral isotretinoin dosage of 0.3-1 mg/kg/day, whereas, hyperkeratotic diseases such as psoriasis and pityriasis rubra pilaris, consistently respond better to higher dosages of up to 2-4 mg/kg/day for lesion clearance. Recurrence of disease following discontinuation of isotretinoin have been reported for rosacea, psoriasis, granuloma annulare, Darier's disease, dissecting cellulitis, and non-melanoma skin cancers. Disease exacerbation was reported in some patients with hidradenitis suppurativa. Off-label isotretinoin is an effective treatment choice for dermatological conditions beyond acne. Further prospective, randomized human trials are needed to clarify when and how to prescribe off-label isotretinoin for maximum efficacy and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherman Chu
- College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Northwest, Western University of Health Sciences, 200 Mullins Dr., Lebanon, OR, 97355, USA. .,Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
| | - Lauren Michelle
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Chloe Ekelem
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Calvin T Sung
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Nathan Rojek
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
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Wang J, Khachemoune A. Granuloma Annulare: A Focused Review of Therapeutic Options. Am J Clin Dermatol 2018; 19:333-344. [PMID: 29230666 DOI: 10.1007/s40257-017-0334-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
Granuloma annulare (GA) is a benign inflammatory disease associated with many conditions such as malignancy, trauma, thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus, and HIV infection. Common clinical subtypes include localized GA, generalized GA, subcutaneous GA, perforating GA, and patch GA. There exists an abundance of literature on GA, yet we know relatively little about its exact etiology and even less about its treatment. The paucity of conclusive data on effective treatment options is largely because the majority of published studies are limited to small case reports, case series, and retrospective studies. As such, there does not yet exist a gold standard of care to guide clinical management. Depending on the clinical subtype, the clinical prognosis for GA can vary. The localized variant generally self-resolves within 2 years without treatment, whereas the generalized form is more chronic and less responsive to treatment. This focused up-to-date review serves to summarize the latest therapeutic options available for GA.
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Cheng YW, Tsai WC, Chuang FC, Chern E, Lee CH, Sung CH, Ho JC. A retrospective analysis of 44 patients with granuloma annulare during an 11-year period from a tertiary medical center in south Taiwan. DERMATOL SIN 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.dsi.2015.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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Piette EW, Rosenbach M. Granuloma annulare. J Am Acad Dermatol 2016; 75:467-479. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.03.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2015] [Revised: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 03/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Lukács J, Schliemann S, Elsner P. Treatment of generalized granuloma annulare - a systematic review. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2015; 29:1467-80. [DOI: 10.1111/jdv.12976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Lukács
- Department of Dermatology; University Hospital Jena; Jena Germany
| | - S. Schliemann
- Department of Dermatology; University Hospital Jena; Jena Germany
| | - P. Elsner
- Department of Dermatology; University Hospital Jena; Jena Germany
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Abstract
Systemic isotretinoin has been used to treat severe acne vulgaris for 20 years. However, isotretinoin also represents a potentially useful choice of drugs in many dermatologic diseases other than acne vulgaris. Diseases such as psoriasis, pityriasis rubra pilaris, condylomata acuminata, skin cancers, rosacea, hidradenitis suppurativa, granuloma annulare, lupus erythematosus and lichen planus have been shown to respond to the immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities of the drug. Isotretinoin also helps prevent skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. A combination of systemic isotretinoin and interferon-alpha-2a may provide a more potent effect than isotretinoin alone in the prevention and treatment of skin cancers.Systemic isotretinoin may be considered as an alternative drug in some dermatologic diseases unresponsive to conventional treatment modalities. However, randomized clinical trials aimed at determining the role of systemic isotretinoin therapy in dermatologic diseases other than acne vulgaris are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melih Akyol
- School of Medicine of Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey.
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Pasmatzi E, Georgiou S, Monastirli A, Tsambaos D. Temporary remission of disseminated granuloma annulare under oral isotretinoin therapy. Int J Dermatol 2004. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2004.02229.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the utility and safety of isotretinoin in the treatment of granuloma annulare (GA). DATA SOURCES Searches of MEDLINE (1966–January 2003), EMBASE (1989–January 2003), International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970–2002), and Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (1985–2002) were conducted. Key terms included granuloma annulare, isotretinoin, retinoids, and antioxidants. DATA SYNTHESIS Isotretinoin may have proliferative and inhibitory effects on collagen synthesis that improve GA symptoms. Cases reporting use of isotretinoin in the treatment of GA were reviewed. Several reports detail the successful use of isotretinoin 0.5–1 mg/kg/day, primarily in the disseminated form of the disease. However, some patients required dosage decreases in response to drug-related liver function test elevations, and 2 instances of drug failure were identified. CONCLUSION Isotretinoin should be reserved for patients with disseminated or refractory GA. Potential serious adverse effects associated with its use require careful monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Looney
- College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, 40536, USA
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Abstract
Despite major advances in the molecular biology and pharmacology of retinoids, no new compound has been developed for systemic use. This article addresses some questions related to the indications of oral retinoids already on the market, e.g. isotretinoin, acitretin, as well as tretinoin, reviews some recently reported undesirable effects, and discusses the recent concepts generated by basic research that may lead to new drugs to be used in pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- J H Saurat
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
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