Elevation of Serum Triglyceride and Cholesterol Levels from Isotretinoin Therapy with Concomitant Oral Contraceptives

The study investigated the impact of concomitant oral contraceptive (OC) use on hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) and hypercholesterolemia (HCHL) in female patients undergoing isotretinoin therapy. Using a matched case-control design, the researchers analyzed data from female isotretinoin users aged 15-55 who reported adverse events between January 1, 1982, and July 31, 1993. The study found a statistically significant association between OC use and both HTG (OR = 3.36) and HCHL (OR = 2.30). Additionally, there was a notably high frequency of OC use among patients with both HTG and HCHL (OR = 12.0). These findings suggested a potential interactive effect between oral contraceptives and isotretinoin in elevating serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels.