Elevated serum creatine kinase levels in acne vulgaris patients treated with isotretinoin: A retrospective single-center study

Abstract

Background: Oral isotretinoin is a highly effective and widely used therapeutic agent for acne; however, it requires close follow-up due to its potential to produce various side effects. Slightly increased levels of serum creatine kinase (CK) that are either associated or not associated with musculoskeletal symptoms have been commonly reported and are typically considered innocuous. Objectives: The aims of the study are to investigate the frequency of our acne vulgaris patients with elevated serum CK levels during isotretinoin treatment, to analyze their course, and to determine the potential risk factors. Materials and Methods: Data of the patients in an outpatient clinic who were treated with isotretinoin due to acne vulgaris were retrospectively analyzed. Results: A total of 154 patients with at least 3 months of follow-up were included in the study. Elevated serum CK levels were found in 31 patients, and two patients had elevated levels over 1000 IU/l. While male sex was found to be a significant risk factor of CK elevation (P