The goal of this study is to learn if isotretinoin oral tablets as a weekend regimen are safe and effective to maintain freedom from acne lesions in young adults who have completed a full course of isotretinoin on daily basis and achieved total control of the acne activity.
Three groups of adult acne patients will be given a full course of isotretinoin with a cumulative dose of 120-150 mg/Kg weight in the 1st two groups, and till lesional clearance in the 3rd group with an additional month of maintenance. Afterwards, the 1st group will use adapalene gel every other day for maintenance, the 2nd and 3rd groups will use weekend oral isotretinoin. Patients will be followed for a year for reappearance of acne lesions, and safety of maintenance regimens. Patients opinion will be also sought.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
60
A one year follow up for patients on three maintenance regimens after acne clearance, including weekend isotretinoin and adapalene gel.
Alexandria University
Alexandria, Egypt
Incidence of acne relapse during maintenance phase
percent of patients having one grade worsening of their acne investigator global assessment scale achieved by end of treatment phase as assessed by the physician during follow up
Time frame: one year
Timing of acne relapse after initiating maintenance
The time interval between initiating maintenance and the occurrence of one grade worsening of the patient's investigator global assessment scale achieved by the end of treatment phase as assessed by the physician during follow up
Time frame: one year
Maximum severity of acne relapse during follow up
Maximum investigator global assessment score reached by the the patient during the follow up year
Time frame: One year
Incidence of adverse effects
Percent of patients reporting adverse effects in general, percent of patients reporting each category of side effects, including disturbed lipid profile, raised transaminases, psychological changes, dryness, hair shedding, ...
Time frame: One year
subjective patient satisfaction by maintenance regimen
A patient oriented outcome, in which the patients are asked by the end of maintenance year to report their degree of satisfaction by the efficacy of maintenance regimen to prevent acne relapse on a visual analogue scale of 1-10, in which 1 is lowest satisfaction and 10 is highest satisfaction.
Time frame: one year
Subjective convenience of maintenance regimen to patient
A patient oriented outcome to assess the degree of convenience of the maintenance regimen for the patient as reported on a visual analogue scale of 1-10, where 1 is the lowest convenience, and 10 is the highest convenience.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: one year