The Role of Isotretinoin Therapy for Cushing’s Disease: Results of a Prospective Study

Objective. This prospective open trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid) in patients with Cushing’s disease (CD). Methods. Sixteen patients with CD and persistent or recurrent hypercortisolism after transsphenoidal surgery were given isotretinoin orally...

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Main Authors: Lucio Vilar, José Luciano Albuquerque, Ruy Lyra, Erik Trovão Diniz, Frederico Rangel Filho, Patrícia Gadelha, Ana Carolina Thé, George Robson Ibiapina, Barbara Sales Gomes, Vera Santos, Maíra Melo da Fonseca, Karoline Frasão Viana, Isis Gabriella Lopes, Douglas Araújo, Luciana Naves
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:International Journal of Endocrinology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/8173182
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author Lucio Vilar
José Luciano Albuquerque
Ruy Lyra
Erik Trovão Diniz
Frederico Rangel Filho
Patrícia Gadelha
Ana Carolina Thé
George Robson Ibiapina
Barbara Sales Gomes
Vera Santos
Maíra Melo da Fonseca
Karoline Frasão Viana
Isis Gabriella Lopes
Douglas Araújo
Luciana Naves
author_facet Lucio Vilar
José Luciano Albuquerque
Ruy Lyra
Erik Trovão Diniz
Frederico Rangel Filho
Patrícia Gadelha
Ana Carolina Thé
George Robson Ibiapina
Barbara Sales Gomes
Vera Santos
Maíra Melo da Fonseca
Karoline Frasão Viana
Isis Gabriella Lopes
Douglas Araújo
Luciana Naves
author_sort Lucio Vilar
collection DOAJ
description Objective. This prospective open trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid) in patients with Cushing’s disease (CD). Methods. Sixteen patients with CD and persistent or recurrent hypercortisolism after transsphenoidal surgery were given isotretinoin orally for 6–12 months. The drug was started on 20 mg daily and the dosage was increased up to 80 mg daily if needed and tolerated. Clinical, biochemical, and hormonal parameters were evaluated at baseline and monthly for 6–12 months. Results. Of the 16 subjects, 4% (25%) persisted with normal urinary free cortisol (UFC) levels at the end of the study. UFC reductions of up to 52.1% were found in the rest. Only patients with UFC levels below 2.5-fold of the upper limit of normal achieved sustained UFC normalization. Improvements of clinical and biochemical parameters were also noted mostly in responsive patients. Typical isotretinoin side-effects were experienced by 7 patients (43.7%), though they were mild and mostly transient. We also observed that the combination of isotretinoin with cabergoline, in relatively low doses, may occasionally be more effective than either drug alone. Conclusions. Isotretinoin may be an effective and safe therapy for some CD patients, particularly those with mild hypercortisolism.
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spelling doaj-art-c033f18cef9e488ba6b060881cd430a02025-08-20T02:19:26ZengWileyInternational Journal of Endocrinology1687-83371687-83452016-01-01201610.1155/2016/81731828173182The Role of Isotretinoin Therapy for Cushing’s Disease: Results of a Prospective StudyLucio Vilar0José Luciano Albuquerque1Ruy Lyra2Erik Trovão Diniz3Frederico Rangel Filho4Patrícia Gadelha5Ana Carolina Thé6George Robson Ibiapina7Barbara Sales Gomes8Vera Santos9Maíra Melo da Fonseca10Karoline Frasão Viana11Isis Gabriella Lopes12Douglas Araújo13Luciana Naves14Division of Endocrinology, Hospital das Clínicas, Pernambuco Federal University, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilDivision of Endocrinology, Hospital das Clínicas, Pernambuco Federal University, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilDivision of Endocrinology, Hospital das Clínicas, Pernambuco Federal University, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilDivision of Endocrinology, Hospital das Clínicas, Pernambuco Federal University, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilDivision of Endocrinology, Hospital das Clínicas, Pernambuco Federal University, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilDivision of Endocrinology, Hospital das Clínicas, Pernambuco Federal University, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilDivision of Endocrinology, Hospital das Clínicas, Pernambuco Federal University, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilDivision of Endocrinology, Hospital das Clínicas, Pernambuco Federal University, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilDivision of Endocrinology, Hospital das Clínicas, Pernambuco Federal University, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilDivision of Endocrinology, Hospital das Clínicas, Pernambuco Federal University, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilDivision of Endocrinology, Hospital das Clínicas, Pernambuco Federal University, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilDivision of Endocrinology, Hospital das Clínicas, Pernambuco Federal University, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilDivision of Endocrinology, Hospital das Clínicas, Pernambuco Federal University, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilDivision of Endocrinology, Hospital das Clínicas, Pernambuco Federal University, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilDivision of Endocrinology, Brasilia University Hospital, Brasilia, DF, BrazilObjective. This prospective open trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid) in patients with Cushing’s disease (CD). Methods. Sixteen patients with CD and persistent or recurrent hypercortisolism after transsphenoidal surgery were given isotretinoin orally for 6–12 months. The drug was started on 20 mg daily and the dosage was increased up to 80 mg daily if needed and tolerated. Clinical, biochemical, and hormonal parameters were evaluated at baseline and monthly for 6–12 months. Results. Of the 16 subjects, 4% (25%) persisted with normal urinary free cortisol (UFC) levels at the end of the study. UFC reductions of up to 52.1% were found in the rest. Only patients with UFC levels below 2.5-fold of the upper limit of normal achieved sustained UFC normalization. Improvements of clinical and biochemical parameters were also noted mostly in responsive patients. Typical isotretinoin side-effects were experienced by 7 patients (43.7%), though they were mild and mostly transient. We also observed that the combination of isotretinoin with cabergoline, in relatively low doses, may occasionally be more effective than either drug alone. Conclusions. Isotretinoin may be an effective and safe therapy for some CD patients, particularly those with mild hypercortisolism.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/8173182
spellingShingle Lucio Vilar
José Luciano Albuquerque
Ruy Lyra
Erik Trovão Diniz
Frederico Rangel Filho
Patrícia Gadelha
Ana Carolina Thé
George Robson Ibiapina
Barbara Sales Gomes
Vera Santos
Maíra Melo da Fonseca
Karoline Frasão Viana
Isis Gabriella Lopes
Douglas Araújo
Luciana Naves
The Role of Isotretinoin Therapy for Cushing’s Disease: Results of a Prospective Study
International Journal of Endocrinology
title The Role of Isotretinoin Therapy for Cushing’s Disease: Results of a Prospective Study
title_full The Role of Isotretinoin Therapy for Cushing’s Disease: Results of a Prospective Study
title_fullStr The Role of Isotretinoin Therapy for Cushing’s Disease: Results of a Prospective Study
title_full_unstemmed The Role of Isotretinoin Therapy for Cushing’s Disease: Results of a Prospective Study
title_short The Role of Isotretinoin Therapy for Cushing’s Disease: Results of a Prospective Study
title_sort role of isotretinoin therapy for cushing s disease results of a prospective study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/8173182
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