Evaluation of Nasal Mucociliary Clearance, Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation, and Epistaxis Severity Score in Isotretinoin Treatment

Abstract

Objectives: The study aims to investigate the possible side effects of isotretinoin use on the nasal mucosa with objective methods in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Methods: Before the treatment, nasal mucociliary clearance time (MCT) was measured in all patients. Also all patients were asked to complete the questionnaires about the nasal dryness (visual analog scale [VAS]), nasal obstruction (Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation [NOSE]), and presence of epistaxis (Epistaxis Severity Score [ESS]). Both MCT and questionnaires were reevaluated in patients who completed the treatment. Results: The results of 101 patients were evaluated. Before treatment, mean duration of nasal mucociliary clearance (NMC) was 9.55 ± 1.30 minutes, nasal dryness (VAS) value was 2.7 ± 0.7, NOSE score was 2.1 ± 1.1, and ESS score was 1.2 ± 0.7; after treatment, the duration of NMC was 13.80 ± 2.29 minutes, VAS value was 3.3 ± 1.1, NOSE score was 3.2 ± 1.3, and ESS score was 2.1 ± 1.2 (P =.018,.150,.027,.011, respectively). Conclusion: The nasal mucosa is adversely affected in patients due to regular use of isotretinoin in the acne treatment, anamnesis should be checked in all nasal surgeries, and routine ear nose throat control should be recommended for these patients.