Development of Hyperlipidemia During Isotretinoin Therapy Indicates Future Risk

Isotretinoin is extremely useful for treatment of severe acne vulgaris. Some patients develop hyperlipidemia during therapy, but it is unclear what causes this anomaly to develop. Lipid abnormalities that arise during therapy generally revert to normal after treatment stops. The long-term consequences for patients who develop hyperlipidemia are not known.

Researchers compared 102 patients whose triglyceride levels increased and 100 patients whose levels did not increase during isotretinoin treatment for severe acne. Patients and their parents were followed for an average of 4 years after completion of therapy. At follow-up, the patients whose triglyceride levels had risen during therapy had significantly higher levels of cholesterol and trig…