August 23rd, 2006

"Study found 40 percent of users had an increase in blood fat levels"

A new study warns that approximately one in three patients who took the acne drug Accutane experienced a rise in cholesterol levels and more than 40 percent showed increased levels of triglycerides, or blood fats—a higher percentage than what previous studies have indicated.

“This is a side effect we have known about all along. We''ve been monitoring patients since the day the drug came on the market,” said Dr. Stephen Stone, president of the American Academy of Dermatology.

“The only thing that''s different is the number of patients who have elevated cholesterol or triglyceride levels is greater than the number stated in the original package insert,” he added.

Researchers also discovered that about 10 percent of Accutane patients develop high levels of a particular liver enzyme—a risk experts are downplaying.

Currently, the drug label warns that about 25 percent of patients may notice a rise in triglycerides and 15 percent may experience an increase in liver enzymes. Other research has indicated even less of a risk of side effects.

The new study, published in the Archives of Dermatology, evaluated the frequency of abnormal test results among almost 14,000 patients between the ages of 13 to 50 who used Accutane from 1995 to 2002.

Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco found that 44 percent of the lab results showed high triglycerides levels, 31 percent high cholesterol, and more than 10 percent had high levels of liver enzymes while taking the drug.

Researchers claim that these abnormal test results are not necessarily indicative of a bad medical outcome. However, they are concerned that these elevated blood fat levels could put Accutane users at risk of “metabolic syndrome,” which refers to a number of unhealthy factors including cholesterol abnormalities, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and more. Some studies suggest those with metabolic syndrome have almost a two-fold risk for developing heart disease.

Doctors are urged to monitor Accutane patients and advise them of a healthy diet and exercise plan to help beat the drug''s adverse effects.

Accutane has been linked to numerous other side effects; the most serious is the significantly increased risk of birth defects in newborns of mother''s who took the drug while pregnant.