Low-dose isotretinoin in severe acne.

A selected group of 60 patients who had been resistant to previous systemic antibiotic therapy was treated with low-dose isotretinoin (0.5 mg/kg/day in two doses) for 12 to 20 weeks. The results confirmed the efficacy of the drug on pustular, nodular and cystic acne even with low-dose treatment. In only one case was it necessary to suspend the treatment because of an increase in serum cholesterol and triglycerides. The authors therefore advise the use of low dosage and that treatment should be restricted to cases of severe acne.