A review on the teratogenic effects of isotretinoin

Abstract

This review article presents recent studies on isotretinoin, a potent oral retinoid that is frequently recommended to treat severe acne but has been clearly associated with teratogenic effects when given to expectant mothers. The motive of this review article is to provide an in-depth overview of the teratogenic effects of isotretinoin and the necessity of strict safety measures to protect fetuses. Isotretinoin is known to be teratogenic; prenatal exposure has been linked to a variety of congenital defects, with the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, and face structures being the most commonly affected. In this review comparative studies of pregnant women with teratogenic effect have been analyzed with numerical data from FAERS database about different teratogenic effect found in fetus and other adverse events. The aim of this review is to analyze the FAERS public database to identify the outcomes reported when pregnant women are exposed to isotretinoin. The review article concludes with proposals for more future study directions as well as a discussion of the research's implications for effective policy reforms.