D Buckley1, S Yoganathan2. 1. The Ashe Street Clinic, Tralee, Co., Kerry, Ireland. info@asctralee.com. 2. The Ashe Street Clinic, Tralee, Co., Kerry, Ireland.
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.
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.
Entities:
Keywords:
Acne; General practice; Isotretinoin; Monitoring; Prescribing; Primary care
Authors: M J D Goodfield; N H Cox; A Bowser; J C McMillan; L G Millard; N B Simpson; A D Ormerod Journal: Br J Dermatol Date: 2010-06 Impact factor: 9.302
Authors: Ingeborg M Zomerdijk; Rikje Ruiter; Leanne M A Houweling; Ron M C Herings; Miriam C J M Sturkenboom; Sabine M J M Straus; Bruno H Stricker Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2014-11-12 Impact factor: 2.692