Bone pain is frequent without objective evidence of any abnormalities and without sequale
Several reports of diffuse hyperostosis of the spine, DISH (diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis) syndrome-like bone changes
Calcification of tendons and ligaments
- Anterior spinal ligament of cervical or thoracic region
- Osteophyte or vertebral spur formation
- Extra-spinal calcification
- Bony bridges
- Ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament
¤± May lead to spinal cord, nerve compression
Most hyperostosis are asymptomatic and clinically insignificant
Likely to involve worsening of pre-existing skeletal overgrowth rather than induction of de novo changes
Osteoporosis has been observed with hypervitaminosis A after long-term therapy with etretinate but not with isotretinoin
In children, only a few cases of skeletal abnormalities, including osteoporosis, periosteal thickening, slender long bone, and premature epiphyseal closure
Premature epiphyseal closure
- Young Ichthyosis patients (<10 yrs) with Isotretinoin or etretinate (0.5-2.5 mg/kg/day)
- Bilateral calcification of epiphyseal plate of the humerus, femur, tibia
- Dose dependent manner
Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva
- ectopic formation of bone, muscles and other tissues
Osteoporosis
- Long term (>10 yrs) use of etretinate cause osteoporosis
- Isotretinoin Tx. group shows no decline on bone mineral density
¤± But, relatively short study time (<6-12 months)
¤± No match control group
¤± Young age group with treating acne
Slender long bone
- thin long bones and thin diaphysis caused by periosteal bone resorption
Retinoid augments bone formation?
- Cortical hyperostosis, ligamentous calcifications and vertebral spur occurred early in the use
- Premature closure of epiphysis
- DISH (diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis)
¤± calcification along the anterior spinal ligament
¤± stiffness and decreased freedom of motion at joints
¤± Further progression can lead to bony bridging with a marked decrease in range of motion
Decreased bone formation?
- induce bone resorption and that fractures resembling osteoporotic lesions can be induced by high doses of synthetic retinoids
- Some data shows long term use of isotretinoin cause osteoporotic change (Controversy)
- Long term use of etretinate cause osteoporosis
Retinoic acid receptor ¥á, ¥ã is predominantly expressed in skin, cartilage and developing bone
stimulate maturation of chondrocytes into a hypertrophic phenotype preceding enchondral bone formation
putative inhibitory effect on remodeling of preformed bone which would lead to decreased bone density