causal association between isotretinoin and inflammatory bowel disease: a case report

roaccutaneâ® (isotretinoin) is used for the treatment of severe forms of acne resistant to adequate standard therapy. inflammatory bowel disease (ibd) is described as a possible adverse drug reaction in the product information of isotretinoin. in a case study, we report the case of a 30 year old woman with a history of bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain and severe folliculitis/acne which had been treated with isotretinoin. her clinical features worsened whilst on isotretinoin. colonoscopy demonstrated diffuse ulcerative pancolitis. isotretinoin treatment was discontinued and the patient was prescribed 5-aminosalicylic acid and corticosteroids. after a few months, steroids were discontinued and the patient went into clinical and laboratory remission. evaluation of the possible causal association between isotretinoin treatment and ibd suggested a probable relationship, which should lead to considerable caution while prescribing this drug.