Awareness of isotretinoin use and safety in Saudi Arabia: A nationwide cross-sectional study

Alshehri, Abdullah A; Althobaiti, Bander A; Khawagi, Wael Y; Murphy, Kevin D

doi:10.1016/j.jsps.2023.101796

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 19 publications

(26 reference statements)

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“…As reported in a systematic review done by Vos et al (2012) of the Global Burden of Disease study, acne vulgaris is the eighth most prevalent disorder around the world [2]. Consequently, with the global rise in the use of isotretinoin particularly among those between the ages of 12 and 24 [3], it is of great importance for physicians to be aware of its safety profile and to recognize the issues and adverse side effects associated with its use [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isotretinoin-Related Eye Dryness in Acne Patients in Qassim, Saudi Arabia

Alfouzan,

Al-Hammad,

Alkhuzayem

et al. 2023

Cureus

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Background Isotretinoin is a commonly prescribed agent mainly used to treat acne vulgaris. Since its Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, the subject of its associations with various medical conditions has become a growing interest in many investigational studies. Methodology A retrospective study was conducted using the validated Standardized Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) questionnaire. All statistical calculations were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27.0.1 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY). Results The research study involved 107 participants, predominantly Saudi nationals (98.1%), with an average age of 22 years. Regarding the total cumulative dose (TCD), 40.2% had less than 50 mg/kg, 33.6% had between 50 and 100 mg/kg, and 15.9% had more than 100 mg/kg. The majority (73.8%) did not stop using isotretinoin. The average Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, indicating ocular surface disease symptoms, was 26.78. There was no significant association between gender, dose/duration of isotretinoin, TCD, and age, and OSDI scores. However, participants with severe OSDI scores were more likely to have worsened pre-existing eye symptoms compared to those with non-severe OSDI scores (35.1% versus 11.4%, p = 0.011). Conclusions This study contributes to the understanding of the impact of isotretinoin usage on ocular surface health. While no significant associations were found between gender, dose, duration, TCD, and age, and OSDI scores, participants with pre-existing eye symptoms were more likely to experience worsened symptoms during isotretinoin treatment.

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