Author(s):
Passier JL, Srivastava N, van Puijenbroek EP.
Research:
Three case reports on inflammatory bowel disease associated with use of
isotretinoin are described. All three patients were male adolescents,
in good health when starting isotretinoin (for acne treatment for about
six months). Several weeks after discontinuation of isotretinoin the
patients developed severe symptoms requiring hospitalisation. The
diagnosis of ulcerative colitis was made in two of these patients,
while in the third patient Crohn's disease was diagnosed. Although
inflammatory bowel disease is described as an adverse drug reaction in
the product information of isotretinoin, few cases have been described
so far. The link with prior isotretinoin use may not be recognised by
the patient or the physician, since the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel
disease is often preceded by several years of vague symptoms. On the
other hand, spontaneous onset of inflammatory bowel disease (not
related to isotretinoin) cannot be excluded. We appeal to the readers
for a reaction to this, to shed more light on the likeliness of this
alleged association.