[Isotretinoin is a help in severe acne--but the adverse effects are too many].
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Acne Vulgaris↗
Biomedical subjects
J Landegren
Publications and source records attributed to J Landegren.
Changes in laboratory variables induced by isotretinoin treatment of acne.
During a trial of isotretinoin (0.5 mg/kg body weight/day for 3 months) in 90 patients with severe acne, the leucocyte (WBC) count, and particularly the number of neutrophils, decreased significantly. In patients with a good response the mean WBC count fell by 24% and the neutrophils by 33%, whereas in those with a poor response these variables decreased by 8% and 14%, respectively. The serum ALAT, ASAT, cholesterol and triglyceride levels increased significantly. Patients with a poor response (n = 35) received a higher dosage (0.75 mg/kg) for an additional 3 months, and during this period there was a further decrease in the WBC and neutrophil counts and an increase in the triglyceride level. In the other patients, who initially responded well, the dosage was decreased to 0.1 or 0 mg/kg during the second 3-month period, which resulted in reversion of the laboratory variables to the pre-treatment levels. The observed changes were clearly both dose-dependent and reversible.
Acne Vulgaris↗
Treatment of scabies with disulfiram and benzyl benzoate emulsion: a controlled study.
In a double-blind study, 38 adults with scabies were treated with the scabicide Tenutex (a proprietary aqueous emulsion containing 0.5% DDT, 2% disulfiram and 22.5% benzyl benzoate) and 42 patients were treated with a similar emulsion lacking DDT. The treatment consisted of a single whole-body (except for the head) application which was washed off after 24 hours. When examined 3 weeks later, both groups were completely cured. Thereafter, a further 35 patients took part in an open trial with the DDT-free Tenutex emulsion and all patients were cured, irrespective of whether the treatments were administered by skilled personnel or by themselves at home. It is concluded that for the treatment of scabies in Sweden, the most commonly used preparation, Tenutex, can be replaced, without risk of loss of efficacy, by an emulsion containing 2% disulfiram and 22.5% benzyl benzoate, i.e. Tenutex without DDT.
Administration, Topical↗
Varicose ulcers.
The results of a combined dermatological and surgical treatment of varicose ulcers was studied in 100 patients. This chronic disease, often persisting for decades, was halted in 90 percent of leg operated upon. Even when the general outcome of the treatment was favourable, it was found that, for 5 out of the 12 ulcers which were the same or larger in size at follow-up than before operation, the patient assessed the result as good or even excellent. This finding deserves further study. It indicates that patients and physicians sometimes use different standards by which to measure therapeutic success.
Aged↗
Iron metabolism in porphyria cutanea tarda.
The iron metabolism has been studied in 11 patients with porphyria cutanea tarda. Despite significantly increased amounts of iron in the serum and liver, the porphyria patients absorb not less but significantly more radioiron than normal controls. Whereas phlebotomy-induced iron deficiency stimulates the absorption in controls, no further stimulation is found in the porphyria patients. The plasma iron turnover is high in the porphyria patients, and some of this iron is probably deposited in the liver. The relationship between the high iron absorption, high plasma iron turnover, high liver iron, liver damage and uroporphyrin production in the liver is discussed. It is suggested that two concurrent genetic defects may cause porphyria cutanea tarda, one in iron absorption and one in porphyrin synthesis by damaged liver cells. The absorption of inorganic iron was higher than that of hemaglobin iron. The possible damage which fortification with inorganic iron could cause to the very small group of porphyria patients is discussed.
Adult↗