Development of acute sacroiliitis due to the use of oral isotretinoin in patients with acne vulgaris: four case presentations

Abstract

Sacroiliitis, an inflammation of the sacroiliac joint, is a characteristic finding of ankylosing spondylitis. Acute sacroiliitis has been described relatively uncommonly, and typically featuring the underlying infectious, rheumatic, neoplastic, or drug-related causality. Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the pilosebaceous unit. Oral isotretinoin is a synthetic vitamin A derivative that has been used to treat severe nodulocystic acne and resistant acne to systemic antibiotic therapy. Few cases have been reported about acute sacroiliitis occurrence due to oral isotretionin treatment in patients with acne vulgaris. The mechanism of sacroiliitis owing to the use of oral isotretionin is not clear. The cessation of drug after early diagnosis, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory treatment, physical rehabilitation and exercise programs limit the progression of disease and the patients can reach their normal functions within 6 months. In this study, we present 4 cases of acne vulgaris with acute sacroiliitis caused by oral isotretionin.