Aspartate aminotransferase levels were classified as normal and high. At baseline, mean (SD) AST levels were 20.2 (6.6) U/L, with normal levels in 311 (96.6%) patients and high in 7 (2.2%) patients. At 3-month follow-up, mean (SD) AST levels were 20.7 (5.2) U/L, with normal levels in 270 (83.9%) patients and high levels in 3 (0.9%) patients. At 6-month follow-up, mean (SD) AST levels were 21.3 (5.7) U/L, with normal levels in 209 (64.9%) patients and high levels in 4 (1.2%) patients. Aspartate aminotransferase levels increased at 3- and 6-month follow-up compared to baseline. Differences between AST levels were statistically significant (F2,416=4.2, P=.016). Differences between AST levels at baseline and 3-month follow-up were not statistically significant (P=.3). Differences between AST levels at 3- and 6-month follow-up were not statistically significant (P=.4). Differences between AST levels at baseline and 6-month follow-up were statistically significant (P=.07). Differences between AST classifications at the 3 time points were not statistically significant (F2,416=0.44, P=.64). Overall, the results indicated that AST levels increased over time in patients treated with isotretinoin, but the increase was not above the normal range and was not statistically significant.
Alanine aminotransferase levels were classified as normal or high. At baseline, mean (SD) ALT levels were 16.8 (11.2) U/L, with normal levels in 303 (94.1%) patients and high in 19 (5.9%) patients. At 3-month follow-up, mean (SD) ALT levels were 16.2 (9.3) U/L, with normal levels in 263 (81.7%) patients and high in 11 (3.4%) patients. At 6-month follow-up, mean (SD) ALT levels were 17.0 (11.3) U/L, with normal levels in 201 (62.4%) patients and high in 11 (3.4%) patients. Alanine aminotransferase levels at 3-month follow-up were lower than baseline but higher at 6-month follow-up compared to baseline and 3-month follow-up. Overall, ALT levels increased with time, but the differences between baseline and 3- and 6-month follow-up were not statistically significant (F2,416=0.32, P=.72). Differences between ALT classifications at each time point were not statistically significant (F2,418=0.21, P=.54). Overall, the results indicated that ALT levels increased over time in patients treated with isotretinoin, but the increase was not statistically significant.
Triglyceride levels were classified as normal, borderline high, high, and very high. At baseline, mean (SD) TG levels were 107 (71) mg/dL, with normal levels in 270 (83.9%) patients, borderline high in 30 (9.3%) patients, high in 20 (6.2%) patients, and very high in 2 (0.6%) patients. At 3-month follow-up, mean (SD) TG levels were 117 (60) mg/dL, with normal levels in 197 (61.2%) patients, borderline high in 38 (11.8%) patients, high in 22 (6.8%) patients, and very high in 1 (0.3%) patient. At 6-month follow-up, mean (SD) TG levels were 122 (65) mg/dL, with normal levels in 145 (45%) patients, borderline high in 36 (11.2%) patients, high in 16 (5%) patients, and very high in 0 (0%) patients. Triglyceride levels increased and differences between TG levels at baseline and 3- and 6-month follow-up were statistically significant (F2,384=17, P<.001). Baseline TG levels compared to 3-month follow-up were statistically signif-icant (P<.001). Differences in TG levels at 6-month follow-up versus baseline were statistically significant (P<.001). However, changes in TG levels from 3- to 6-month follow-up were not statistically significant (P=.21). Differences between TG classifications at each time point were statistically significant (F2,386=6.9, P=.001). Overall, TG levels increased from baseline during isotretinoin treatment at 3- and 6-month follow-up, and these increases were above normal range; however, there was no statistically significant increase from 3- to 6-month follow-up.
Low-density lipoprotein levels were classified as optimal, above optimal, borderline high, high, and very high. At baseline, mean (SD) LDL levels were 102 (28) mg/dL, with optimal levels in 162 (50.3%) patients, above optimal in 95 (29.5%) patients, borderline high in 32 (9.9%) patients, high in 11 (3.4%) patients, and very high in 3 (0.9%) patients. At 3-month follow-up, mean (SD) LDL levels were 113 (30) mg/dL, with optimal levels in 89 (27.6%) patients, above optimal in 98 (30.4%) patients, borderline high in 54 (16.8%) patients, high in 12 (3.7%) patients, and very high in 5 (1.6%) patients. At 6-month follow-up, mean (SD) LDL levels were 113 (27) mg/dL, with optimal levels in 60 (18.6%) patients, above optimal in 84 (26.1%) patients, borderline high in 44 (13.7%) patients, high in 8 (2.5%) patients, and very high in 1 (0.3%) patient. Overall, there were statistically significant increases in LDL levels at 3- and 6-month follow-up (F2,382<75, P<.001). Differences between baseline LDL levels and 3-month follow-up were statistically significant (P<.001). Differences between baseline LDL levels and 6-month follow-up were statistically significant (P<.001). However, differences in LDL levels at 3- and 6-month follow-up were not statistically significant (P=.74). Differences between LDL classifications at each time point were statistically significant (F2,382=51.2, P<.001). Overall, statistically significant increases in LDL levels from baseline were noted during isotretinoin treatment and this increase was above normal range; however, LDL levels did not significantly increase from 3- to 6-month follow-up.
