BACKGROUND: Preventing fetal exposure to isotretinoin is an important public health goal. Since approval of isotretinoin (1982), the Food and Drug Administration has implemented several unsuccessful risk management programs aimed at preventing fetal exposure. The Kaiser Permanente isotretinoin risk management program included electronic capture of all isotretinoin prescriptions and the documentation of pregnancy testing with each dispense. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to analyze the success of Kaiser Permanente's program at improving pregnancy testing rates and reducing fetal exposure. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. RESULTS: Pregnancy testing rates improved after implementation of the Kaiser Permanente program. However, the rate of fetal exposure to isotretinoin did not change (0.21% before vs 0.23% after, P = .85). LIMITATIONS/ CONCLUSION: In this study, linking a negative pregnancy test to isotretinoin dispensing did not reduce fetal exposures. Patient failure to use two contraceptive methods was the most common reason for fetal exposure. These results have important implications for iPLEDGE, the new isotretinoin risk management program mandated by the Food and Drug Administration.
BACKGROUND: Preventing fetal exposure to isotretinoin is an important public health goal. Since approval of isotretinoin (1982), the Food and Drug Administration has implemented several unsuccessful risk management programs aimed at preventing fetal exposure. The Kaiser Permanente isotretinoin risk management program included electronic capture of all isotretinoin prescriptions and the documentation of pregnancy testing with each dispense. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to analyze the success of Kaiser Permanente's program at improving pregnancy testing rates and reducing fetal exposure. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. RESULTS: Pregnancy testing rates improved after implementation of the Kaiser Permanente program. However, the rate of fetal exposure to isotretinoin did not change (0.21% before vs 0.23% after, P = .85). LIMITATIONS/ CONCLUSION: In this study, linking a negative pregnancy test to isotretinoin dispensing did not reduce fetal exposures. Patient failure to use two contraceptive methods was the most common reason for fetal exposure. These results have important implications for iPLEDGE, the new isotretinoin risk management program mandated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Authors: Ineke Crijns; Sabine Straus; Michiel Luteijn; Christine Gispen-de Wied; June Raine; Lolkje de Jong-van den Berg Journal: Drug Saf Date: 2012-01-01 Impact factor: 5.606
Authors: Martina Teichert; Loes E Visser; Mark Dufour; Eline Rodenburg; Sabine M J M Straus; Peter A G M De Smet; Bruno H Ch Stricker Journal: Drug Saf Date: 2010-04-01 Impact factor: 5.606
Authors: Elisabeth Autret-Leca; Carmen Kreft-Jais; Elisabeth Elefant; Hawaré Cissoko; François Darrouzain; Lamiae Grimaldi-Bensouda; Sarah Attia; Annie Pierre Jonville-Béra Journal: Drug Saf Date: 2010-08-01 Impact factor: 5.606