Evidence linking isotretinoin to major cardiac events ‘weak’, Aussie review finds
But dermatologists urge consideration of all potential mechanisms given the potential mortality and morbidity.
An Australian systematic review of rare major adverse cardiac events in patients taking isotretinoin for acne has found only weak evidence for a causal relationship.
Nevertheless, patients should be informed to seek medical attention for specific symptoms, say the reviews from Canberra Hospital and the Australian National University.
Writing in Australasian Journal of Dermatology, they said that high-quality evidence for serious cardiovascular events was lacking.
The review included 21 studies: 19 case studies and two non-randomised retrospective cohort studies (one with controls and one without).
