The effects of isotretinoin on the inner ear in patients with acne vulgaris

Background and Design: Systemic isotretinoin (ISO) is one of the most important treatment agents that are used in nodulocystic acne treatment. It has many effects on many systems of the body. Previous studies reported positive and negative results related to systemic ISO and its effects on hearing. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of systemic ISO on hearing functions. Materials and Methods: This study included 53 patients with acne vulgaris (106 ears) that were treated with 0.8 mg/kg oral ISO for 6 months. Pure tone audiometry (PTA), speech discrimination test (SD), and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) tests were performed. Results: No significant differences were found in the mean SD and PTA threshold values between the pre-treatment period, after 3 months of treatment, and 4 months after the end of treatment. Statistically significant increases were detected in the amplitudes at 6,000, 8,000, and 10,000 Hz frequencies when DPAOE values in 3 months of treatment were compared with the pretreatment DPAOE values; however, no significant differences were detected in the DPAOE values between the pretreatment and 4 months after the end of treatment. Conclusion: Systemic ISO increased DPOAE amplitudes during the treatment in patients with acne; however, these changes returned to pre treatment levels in 4 months after the end of treatment. Our results indicate that ISO treatment has temporary effects on DPOAE values, which is an important parameter in measuring the cochlear function. Therefore, ISO seems a safe and well-tolerated agent for the auditory system.