Treatment of a Population of 32 Patients with ALS and Spine Injury Grafting Stem Cells through Neuroendoscopy

Abstract

Introduction: Isotretinoin, a potent acne treatment, has notable side effects, including depression and teratogenicity. Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH), characterized by elevated intracranial pressure, has been linked to isotretinoin. This study explores the awareness of IIH among isotretinoin users in Saudi Arabia, addressing a crucial healthcare concern. Methodology: It is a cross-sectional study conducted in Saudi Arabia using a self-administered questionnaire shared via social media and in dermatology clinics. Data is cleaned in excel and analyzed in IBM SPSS 29. Results: Our study included 420 Isotretinoin users, primarily females (76.9%), aged 18-25 (64.3%), from Eastern (29.5%) and Western (26.7%) regions, with high school (49.3%) and university graduates (46.7%). All used Isotretinoin for acne treatment, with varied usage durations. Some used additional medications like Vit. A (Retinol) (23.1%). Notably, only 26.7% were aware of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH), and 18.1% believed Isotretinoin increased IIH risk. Educational level significantly impacted IIH awareness (p<0.001), while age, gender, and regional factors had less impact. Acne presence did not notably affect IIH awareness. Conclusion: Our study emphasizes the necessity of enhancing Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) awareness among Isotretinoin users. Despite some sociodemographic influences on awareness, there is a pervasive lack that requires targeted education for safer medication use and improved patient outcomes.