Ir J Med Sci. 2017 Jan 9. doi: 10.1007/s11845-016-1540-5. [Epub ahead of print]

Can oral isotretinoin be safely initiated and monitored in primary care? A case series.

Buckley D, Yoganathan S.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Oral isotretinoin has traditionally been prescribed only in secondary care for severe or resistant acne.

AIMS:

To explore whether this drug can be safely initiated and monitored in primary care by a GP with extra training in dermatology.

METHOD:

One hundred consecutive patients who were started on oral isotretinoin therapy in a primary care centre were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS:

One hundred percent of the patients with acne who completed their course of isotretinoin were cleared at the end of treatment. Twenty-three of the eighty-one patients (28%) who were followed-up after a mean of 5 years relapsed and eighteen (22%) had to have at least one more course of isotretinoin. Seventy-four of seventy-seven (96%) patients who had long-term follow-up were satisfied with the level of care they received in primary care.

CONCLUSION:

This study suggests that oral isotretinoin can be safely initiated and monitored by a GP with a special interest in dermatology and experience in prescribing systemic retinoids.

KEYWORDS:

Acne; General practice; Isotretinoin; Monitoring; Prescribing; Primary care

PMID:28070816DOI:10.1007/s11845-016-1540-5[PubMed - as supplied by publisher] 

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