Acne Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Acne, including details on skin problems, diet, treatments, puberty.

Creatine phosphokinase values during isotretinoin treatment for acne.

Kaymak Y

University of Gazi, Health Center, Ankara, Turkey. yesimkaymak@yahoo.com

BACKGROUND: Muscle-related complaints and high creatine phosphokinase (CPK) blood levels have been reported in 15-50% of patients with acne treated with isotretinoin. Clinical investigations about CPK levels in isotretinoin therapy were few, and most of them were case reports. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence, course, and clinical significance of severe hyperphosphokinasemia in isotretinoin therapy for acne. METHODS: A total of 89 patients were treated with isotretinoin for moderate or severe acne at our dermatology department. At the initial visit and during the monthly follow-up visits, hemoglobin, hematocrit, leukocytes, thrombocyte, renal function tests (urea and creatinine), direct and indirect bilirubin, liver enzymes [serum glutamate oxaloacetate (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), gamma glutamil transpeptidase (GGT), and alkaline phosphotase (ALP)], lipid profile [total cholesterol, very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), high density lipoproteins (HDL), and triglycerides], urine analysis, and CPK were requested. We asked all patients about muscle-related complaints, weakness, exercise, and compared CPK levels. RESULTS: Elevated CPK levels were recorded in only five patients during treatment period. Maximum serum CPK values recorded for each patient ranged between 292 and 569 IU/l. Only one patient out of five had myalgia and four patients were completely asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, marked hyperCPKemia with or without muscle-related complaints in isotretinoin-treated patients with acne is a benign phenomenon; therefore, it is logical to reserve measurement of CPK levels as well as renal tests for cases with severe muscle pain.

Published 1 April 2008 in Int J Dermatol, 47(4): 398-401.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

Articles on Acne published 17 March 2008:

Computer-assisted alignment and tracking of acne lesions indicate that most inflammatory lesions arise from comedones and de novo.   J Am Acad Dermatol, 58(4): 603-8.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory acne lesions are believed to derive from comedones; however, their evolution has not been rigorously studied. OBJECTIVE: To examine the evolution of facial acne lesions using serial digital photographs and spatial alignment software. METHODS: Six predefined lesion types, including inflammatory lesions, were counted and tracked from photographs taken every 2 weeks for 12 weeks from 25 individuals with untreated facial acne. RESULTS: Closed comedones occurred most ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Acne published 13 March 2008:

Propionibacterium acnes stimulates pro-matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression through tumor necrosis factor-alpha in human dermal fibroblasts.   J Invest Dermatol, 128(4): 846-54.

Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is a commensal microorganism found in sebum-rich skin and plays a role in acne inflammation by stimulating keratinocyte to produce a number of proinflammatory cytokines. However, the role of P. acnes in the dermis of acne lesions, where tissue remodeling after inflammation eventually takes place, is not known. In this study, we investigated whether P. acnes induces matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), a key enzyme involved in matrix remodeling in human dermal ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Acne published 20 February 2008:

The effect of a low glycemic load diet on acne vulgaris and the fatty acid composition of skin surface triglycerides.   J Dermatol Sci, 50(1): 41-52.

BACKGROUND: Dietary factors have long been implicated in acne pathogenesis. It has recently been hypothesized that low glycemic load diets may influence sebum production based on the beneficial endocrine effects of these diets. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a low glycemic load diet on acne and the fatty acid composition of skin surface triglycerides. METHODS: Thirty-one male acne patients (aged 15-25 years) completed sebum sampling tests as part of a larger 12-week, parallel design ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Acne published 19 February 2008:

Educating adolescents about acne vulgaris: a comparison of written handouts with audiovisual computerized presentations.   Arch Dermatol, 144(2): 208-14.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of written handouts with that of audiovisual computerized presentations in educating adolescents about acne vulgaris. DESIGN: Randomized study. SETTING: A private dermatology office or 1 of 3 general pediatric clinics in New Haven. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred one adolescent patients, aged 13 to 17 years. Intervention All participants completed a brief enrollment questionnaire to gauge baseline knowledge of acne vulgaris. Subjects were then randomized to either ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Acne published 18 February 2008:

Long-pulsed dye laser versus long-pulsed dye laser-assisted photodynamic therapy for acne vulgaris: A randomized controlled trial.   J Am Acad Dermatol, 58(3): 387-94.

BACKGROUND: Long-pulsed dye laser (LPDL)-assisted photodynamic therapy has been suggested to be superior to laser alone for acne vulgaris but no evidence is available. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of LPDL alone versus LPDL in photodynamic therapy with methylaminolevulinic acid (MAL-LPDL) for acne vulgaris. METHODS: Fifteen patients received a series of 3 full-face LPDL treatments and half-face prelaser MAL treatments; the latter being randomly assigned to the left or right ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Acne published 5 February 2008:

Adapalene gel 0.1% is effective and safe for Japanese patients with acne vulgaris: a randomized, multicenter, investigator-blinded, controlled study.   J Dermatol Sci, 49(3): 241-8.

BACKGROUND: Topical retinoids, such as adapalene, are an integral part of acne therapy in most regions and are considered appropriate first-line therapy by international guidelines for all cases of acne with the exception of the most severe. However, there are currently no topical retinoids available for the treatment of acne vulgaris in Japan. OBJECTIVE: To confirm efficacy and safety of adapalene gel 0.1% versus the corresponding gel vehicle in the treatment of Japanese patients with acne ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Acne published 17 January 2008:

Cyproterone acetate/ethinyl estradiol for acne and hirsutism: time to revise prescribing policy.   Hum Reprod, 23(2): 231-2.

Clinical manifestations of androgen excess-hirsutism, acne and alopecia-are very common and distressing symptoms in women of reproductive age. These symptoms are frequently associated with polycystic ovary syndrome, in which condition menstrual disturbances are also common. The combination of the anti-androgen cyproterone acetate (2 mg) and ethinyl estradiol (35 microg) (co-cypridiol) is of proven efficacy in management of symptoms of both hyperandrogenism and menstrual abnormalities but its ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Acne published 7 January 2008:

Comparison of alpha- and beta-hydroxy acid chemical peels in the treatment of mild to moderately severe facial acne vulgaris.   Dermatol Surg, 34(1): 45-50; discussion 51.

BACKGROUND: Chemical peels are used as adjuvants for treatment of facial acne. No well-controlled studies have compared alpha- and beta-hydroxy acid peels in the treatment of mild to moderately severe facial acne. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of alpha- and beta-hydroxy acid chemical peels in the treatment of mild to moderately severe facial acne vulgaris. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients were recruited in this split-face, double-blind, randomized, controlled study. An alpha-hydroxy ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

© 2004-2008 Acne Research Today. All Rights Reserved.