The results of the current study indicate that isotretinoin treatment induces oxidative stress and liver damage by decreasing plasma vitamin E and increasing erythrocytes GSH-Px, GSH and liver enzyme values.

PMID: 

Cell Biochem Funct. 2012 Oct ;30(7):552-7. Epub 2012 Apr 20. PMID: 22517509

Abstract Title: 

Isotretinoin treatment induces oxidative toxicity in blood of patients with acne vulgaris: a clinical pilot study.

Abstract: 

Acne vulgaris is the one of the most common skin diseases. Although isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid) is an effective and well-tolerated medication, it has a wide range of side effects. Because the effects of isotretinoin on oxidant and antioxidant systems have not yet been clarified, we investigated plasma and erythrocyte antioxidant vitamins, lipid peroxidation (LP), reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) values in patients with acne vulgaris before and after isotretinoin treatment. The study was performed on the blood plasma and erythrocytes of 31 acne vulgaris patients. Blood samples were taken from the patients before treatment and after isotretinoin (oral and 0·5-0·7 mg·kg(-1)) treatment for 2 months. Plasma amtioxidant vitamins, erythrocyte malondialdehyde, GSH and GSH-Px levels were measured. Plasma vitamin E (p

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