Isotretinoin Lidose in clinical practice

Background: Systemic isotretinoin is recommended for the treatment of moderate to severe acne. The specialized Lidose modified-release technology has improved isotretinoin absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, increasing its bioavailability by 20%, thereby allowing a 20% dose reduction without compromising therapeutic efficacy. Aim: The work aimed to estimate the clinical outcomes of isotretinoin Lidose in the treatment of moderate to severe acne. Methods: A retrospective, uncontrolled, single-center study analyzed 2477 cases of systemic isotretinoin prescription in patients with moderate to severe acne, including 1912 women (77.2%) and 565 men (22.8%), with a mean age of 22.7 years; 290 patients (11.7%) had comorbidities. The daily therapeutic dose was calculated based on 0.4–0.8 mg/kg body weight, with a cumulative dose of 100–150 mg/kg. All patients underwent laboratory testing (complete blood count and biochemistry) before treatment, at 3 months, and at the end of therapy. For one month before systemic isotretinoin treatment, throughout the entire treatment course, and for one month after completion, female patients were advised to use at least one (preferably two) effective contraceptive method, including barrier contraception. Results: After 6–12 months, all patients achieved complete clinical remission. By the end of therapy, skin oiliness and comedones disappeared, inflammatory lesions completely resolved, and skin texture became even. Among adverse events, cheilitis and xerosis were most frequently observed by weeks 2–3 and were successfully managed with moisturizers and lip balms. Transient elevations in transaminases and total cholesterol (within 10% of the normal range) were observed in 3.4% of cases, not requiring dose adjustment. Conclusion: Systemic isotretinoin administration for moderate to severe acne allows achieving long-term clinical remission, which leads to a positive effect in preventing acne-related emotional distress. Retrospective analysis of isotretinoin Lidose use in clinical practice confirms not only its good tolerability but also its high efficacy in the treatment of moderate to severe acne.