Effect of oral 13-cis-retinoic acid on serum lipids.

Serum lipid concentrations were measured in eighteen patients with severe acne before, during and after treatment with 0.8 mg/kg 13-cis-retinoic acid for 3 months. Cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations increased and HDL-cholesterol concentrations fell significantly during therapy. There were significant abnormalities of liver function and small decreases in indices of thyroid function. These changes had reverted to normal by 1 month after treatment. The data suggest that use of the drug in acne is likely to be limited by its toxicity.