Do you routinely monitor complete blood cell count (CBC) in patients taking isotretinoin?
More than half (55%) of dermatologists surveyed routinely monitor complete blood cell (CBC) counts in patients taking isotretinoin, while 45% do not. Of those who do monitor CBC, 13% do so at baseline only, 26% at baseline and monthly, 13% at baseline only and every 2 to 3 months, and only 3% at baseline and end of therapy.
Expert Commentary
Provided by Shari R. Lipner, MD, PhD (New York, New York)
Slightly more than half of dermatologists in this survey are obtaining CBC for their patients taking isotretinoin for acne and many of those are performing the test at baseline and monthly. Multiple studies as well as American Academy of Dermatology guidelines have substantiated that routine CBC monitoring is unwarranted in healthy patients, as abnormal values usually resolve or remain stable with therapy (American Academy of Dermatology, Isotretinoin: Recommendations). Therefore, it is worthwhile to consider foregoing CBC testing or obtaining just a baseline CBC in healthy patients being treated with isotretinoin.
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