Analysis of the effects of isotretinoin on the premature epiphyseal closure in pediatric populations: a literature review

Methods

The literature review was conducted on 15 separate occasions between December 2020 and July 2021 utilizing PubMed with the following search terms: “premature epiphyseal closure.” In April 2021, the terms “isotretinoin” and “epiphysis premature fusion” were queried on two separate occasions in the FDA’s Drug Data and the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database, respectively. The terms were identified on MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) as “isotretinoin/administration & dosage,” “databases, pharmaceutical,” “growth plate/drug effects,” “isotretinoin/therapeutic use,” “failure to thrive/chemically induced,” “growth plate/pathology,” and “arthralgia/pathology.”

In the FDA’s drug database, the search term “isotretinoin” was utilized. In the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database, the keyword “epiphysis premature fusion” was searched by reaction term. Our search was further narrowed utilizing filters for the term “isotretinoin.”

Utilizing the PubMed and FDA Adverse Event Reporting System databases, we identified additional studies through a citation review of key articles. Excluding duplicates, we identified 308 studies in our initial search. We then screened the studies for eligibility utilizing the title and keywords “premature epiphyseal closure & isotretinoin/retinoid/vitamin A” or “isotretinoin”; this narrowed our results to 32 studies. Of these 32 studies, 28 were selected and four were excluded. We included in our selection reports of patients worldwide under 18 years of age with premature epiphyseal closure or growth plate damage secondary to isotretinoin, and we limited our selection to articles published in the English language between 1980 and 2020. We also included background sources relating to isotretinoin’s profile with side effects and dosing. We further narrowed our search to exclude patients with a history of growth plate disorders due to trauma, malignancy, or other pathological processes, as well as patients with growth arrest due to endocrine factors. Growth plate abnormalities associated with retinoid derivatives other than isotretinoin were also excluded. Figure 1 shows the PRISMA diagram.

Figure 1:

PRISMA diagram.

Alazawi designed the study and conducted the initial search, review, and analysis of the data. Hendriksz conducted a further literature review, and both authors reviewed the results together. Studies that followed the inclusion criteria were utilized. Alazawi and Hendriksz agreed to include patients under 18 years of age with premature epiphyseal closure or growth plate damage secondary to isotretinoin. Additionally, both authors agreed on the exclusion criteria.

Results

In total, 32 items were found, of which 28 were included and four were excluded based on the foregoing criteria. Two case reports of patients on retinoid therapy with a history of growth hormone deficiency and premature epiphyseal closure were excluded. Case reports of growth plate abnormalities associated with other retinoid derivatives, such as fenretinide and etretinate, were also excluded because of their different pharmacokinetic profiles compared to isotretinoin [18, 19]. We also excluded studies of premature epiphyseal closure due to trauma and fractures.

Eventually, a total of 28 items were selected, including: one FDA Drug Label of Accutane (brand-name for isotretinoin), one FDA website of adverse reactions, 19 supplemental articles, six case reports, and one case series of premature epiphyseal closure secondary to isotretinoin. Premature epiphyseal closure and growth plate abnormalities were associated with various durations and doses of isotretinoin ranging from the lowest dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day for a few months to 3.5 mg/kg/day for years.

Between 1985 and 2021, the FDA received 41 reports worldwide of premature epiphyseal closure related to isotretinoin in patients under 18 years of age. Of those 41 reports, 22 reports were for the treatment of acne, one report was for the treatment of epidermolysis bullosa, and 18 reports had unspecified reasons for utilizing isotretinoin [20]. The data were extracted from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database and reorganized to highlight the key elements of the study [20]. Table 1 shows the results of the FDA reports. We omitted any duplicate reports and those with adult patients (over 18 years of age).

In the review of six case reports and one case series selected, nine patients were found to have growth plate abnormalities related to isotretinoin therapy. Table 2 highlights the pertinent findings of the case reports and case series. In the Duvalyan et al. case series study, three of the 216 pediatric neuroblastoma patients developed irreversible premature epiphyseal closure after Isotretinoin exposure with an incidence rate of 1.4% [21]. Imaging of these three patients at ages 9, 10, and 11 revealed premature epiphyseal closure of the bilateral knees following isotretinoin doses of 160 mg/m² at variable cycles [21].

In the case reported by Matsuoka et al., a 10-year-old female suffered irreversible arrest of the femoral and tibial plates after taking isotretinoin at the average dose of 40 mg/day for 9.8 years to treat neuroblastoma [22]. Park et al. reported a case of a 10-year-old male with premature epiphyseal closure of the knees likely related to isotretinoin therapy for neuroblastoma [23]. From the Milstone et al. paper, partial epiphyseal fusion of the right tibia was associated with isotretinoin therapy at an average dose of 3.5 mg/kg/day for a couple of years in a 10-year-old boy with history of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis [7]. Marini et al. reported reversible growth plate abnormalities of the knees in a case of a 9-year-old boy with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressive, who was treated with isotretinoin at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day for 5 months [24]. In two other case reports of patients being treated for acne, unilateral knee epiphyseal deformities were associated with isotretinoin therapy at doses of 0.5 and 0.75 mg/kg/day for 6 months in 16-year-old and a 14-year old, respectively [8, 9].

Nineteen supplemental articles were selected: four articles with uses of isotretinoin, two articles with dosing guidelines for isotretinoin, four articles relating to the side effects of isotretinoin, one article about laboratory monitoring during isotretinoin therapy, three studies regarding the physiology of growth plate in adolescents, two articles about how isotretinoin impacts animals growth plates in vivo, two articles about the differences between isotretinoin and other retinoid derivatives such as fenretinide and etretinate, one article relating to acne and puberty, and one article looking at the incidence of isotretinoin prescriptions among adolescents.

Discussion

Growth plate arrest has been reported in doses between 0.5 and 3.6 mg/kg/day for a variable course of 6 months to several years [7], [8], [9, 21], [22], [23], [24].

Most cases of growth failure are reported secondary to high-dose isotretinoin use for prolonged periods and are usually seen in the treatment of neuroblastoma. In one study, three out of 216 pediatric neuroblastoma patients developed premature epiphyseal closure after isotretinoin exposure with an incidence rate of 1.4% [21]. The dose utilized was 160 mg/day for 2 weeks on the medication and 2 weeks off the medication for 6–8 cycles. In another case report, a 10-year-old female developed epiphyseal fusion secondary to isotretinoin therapy. She had a history of metastatic neuroblastoma, sparing the growth plates, and was diagnosed at 3 months old. She was initially treated with chemotherapy for a few months followed by only a systemic retinoid at a dose of 40 mg/day, with a total treatment period of 9.8 years, beginning at 1 year of age [22]. She was evaluated by orthopedic surgeons for knee pain and deformity caused by tibial and femoral growth plate fusion, with the diagnosis supported by X-ray images and pathology findings [22]. A histopathologic analysis of the patient’s femoral growth plate showed degradation of the cartilage matrix without evidence of apoptosis in the growth plates. The irreversible degradation of the cartilage matrix was most likely secondary to isotretinoin [22]. Park et al. reported a case of a 10-year-old male with premature epiphyseal closure of the knees likely related to Isotretinoin therapy for neuroblastoma [23]. The patient was diagnosed with metastatic neuroblastoma to the left proximal humerus at the age of 6 years, for which he underwent chemotherapy and radiation. Following completion of the treatment, the boy then began isotretinoin therapy at a dose of 60 mg/day for 1 year [23]. A CT scan of the child’s knees showed sclerotic changes supporting the diagnosis of premature epiphyseal closure. Furthermore, an MRI showed focal closure of the left humeral growth plate, which is the area where the metastatic neuroblastoma was located and on which radiation therapy was focused [23]. Park et al. reported that the physeal closure of the left humerus was likely secondary to focused radiation therapy of that area [23]. However, the knees did not undergo any radiation therapy, and their skeletal pathology likely related to isotretinoin use [23].

In all reports of patients with a history of neuroblastoma, they underwent a series of chemotherapy and radiation therapy that may also contribute to skeletal deformities [21], [22], [23]. Both therapies can affect growth, and radiation may induce premature epiphyseal closure [23]. These therapies could potentiate the damage of isotretinoin on growth plates. Additionally, some patients had a history of metastatic neuroblastoma to bones with sparing of the growth plate, which could be a contributing factor to skeletal toxicity. Metastasis to other organs could possibly affect the growth plate development indirectly.

Retinoid derivatives can be administered for the treatment of the keratinization dermatologic disorders, including epidermolytic hyperkeratosis. In one case, a child with epidermolytic hyperkeratosis utilized 13-cis retinoic acid for 4.5 years and was diagnosed with partial tibial epiphyseal closure at 10 years old [7]. The patient started the treatment at 6 years of age at a dose ranging from 0.5 to 4.5 mg/kg/day for the first 2 years of treatment [7]. The dose was then adjusted to an average of 3.5 mg/kg/day in the final 2 years of treatment [7]. The duration of the treatment was for a 6 month course on the drug separated by 4 week periods off the drug [7]. The patient had recurring right knee pain, which prompted him to receive an X-ray of the knees at 42 months posttreatment. The imaging showed diffuse demineralization with partial fusion of the proximal epiphyseal plate in the right tibia [7].

Another example of skeletal toxicity associated with systemic retinoids was a case of a 9-year-old male who was treated with isotretinoin for fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, who later developed changes to his epiphyseal plates [24]. The patient was given isotretinoin for 5 months at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day [24]. The child later reported knee pain and received a skeletal survey of his lower extremities that displayed growth line arrest and thick metaphyseal bands that were nonexistent on the pretreatment imaging [24]. His height was also monitored, and he lacked linear growth during the 5 months of treatment. As a result, his isotretinoin therapy was stopped. At his 3 month follow-up after stopping the retinoid, his X-ray showed decreased density of the metaphyseal bands and resumption of height growth [24]. This article emphasizes the importance of frequent height measurements in follow-up evaluations for patients receiving high-dose or long-term retinoids. A lack of height growth should be followed up by an X-ray of long bones. There are a variety of growth centers affected by isotretinoin, and some of the growth plate damage may be reversible, whereas other damage may be irreversible [25]. The point at which irreversible changes on the growth plate occurs secondary to isotretinoin cannot be delineated in this study, and further research into this topic is needed.

Between 1985 and 2021, the FDA received 41 reports worldwide of premature epiphyseal closure related to isotretinoin in patients under 18 years without any literature reference. [20] However, the cases reported to the FDA lacked pertinent patient information, including relevant medical history and how the diagnosis of premature epiphyseal closure was made. Thus, the level of evidence is low as to whether isotretinoin was associated with these reports.

Of the 41 FDA reports, 22 reports of premature epiphyseal fusion were associated with isotretinoin utilized for the treatment of acne [20]. In one study, it was found that acne affects 78% of females between 8 and 12 years old [26]. In another study, the mean onset of acne in males was age 14.3 years [27]. Because acne affects adolescents frequently and isotretinoin has been the most effective therapy for acne, there has been an increased prescription of systemic retinoids during the growth stage of teenagers. One study that examined the Norwegian Prescription Database estimated that 32,085 out of 144,220 individuals (∼22%) in the age group of 14–24 years old had received a prescription of isotretinoin from 2005 to 2015 to treat acne [28].

Additionally, cases of premature epiphyseal closure have been reported by Luthi et al. [8] and Steel et al. [9] in acne patients treated with low doses of isotretinoin. One such report describes a 16-year-old male in Switzerland who plays soccer and who was on 0.5 mg/kg/day of isotretinoin therapy for acne for at least 6 months [8]. He complained of knee pain that prompted him to receive an MRI and X-rays of both knees [8]. The X-ray findings were normal, but the MRI showed epiphysiodesis and destruction of the growth plate, with irregular epiphyseal cartilage and associated edema, resulting in the diagnosis of retinoid-induced epiphysiodesis [8].

Another patient being treated for acne had growth plate derangement following a 6 month course of vitamin A treatment [9]. This 14-year-old male in Australia had a history of nonresponsive cystic acne and was treated with isotretinoin at a dose of 0.75 mg/kg/day for 6 months [9]. At 12 months posttreatment, the patient was evaluated with an X-ray imaging of the long leg bones after spraining his knee during a rugby match [9]. The imaging revealed closure of the right lateral femoral physis causing right knee valgus. The other growth plates appeared normal [9]. The toxic effects of low-dose isotretinoin on the skeletal system can be attributed to a patient’s genetic variability in metabolizing the drug and changing its pharmacodynamics [9]. In both cases reported by Luthi et al. and Steel et al., the patients received imaging of their joints to rule out a sports-related injury [8, 9].

Premature epiphyseal closure was an incidental finding in both of those patients who received imaging due to sports injuries. Thus, the incidence of growth plate fusion due to isotretinoin could be underestimated in patients who do not participate in sports and are less likely to receive an imaging workup. On the other hand, isotretinoin is highly efficacious for treating acne and preventing the subsequent risk of scarring. The potential risk of irreversible growth arrest needs to be weighed against the benefits provided by its use.

For osteopathic considerations, the first tenant of osteopathy states that the body is a unit. Osteopathic physicians should consider how isotretinoin targets not only the skin for therapeutic effects but also multiple organ systems including the skeletal system.

Our literature review was limited to the databases available to us at the time of our review. As a result, other applicable studies outside of those available databases may exist but were not included in our study. Additionally, few articles dated back to the 1980s and 1990s with limited imaging technology and resolution that could potentially not fully capture the radiographic findings associated with growth plate development and abnormalities. Another limitation would be small sample size of nine patients. FDA reports are limited on the doses of isotretinoin associated with premature fusion. A prospective study with a large population of adolescents to examine the development of growth plates while taking isotretinoin therapy would add strength to the current understanding of its effects.

Conclusions

Isotretinoin-induced premature fusion of growth plates seems to be associated with variable doses and durations of months to years. There have been reported cases of premature epiphyseal closure in individuals receiving therapeutic doses of isotretinoin for acne treatment, which are much lower compared to the high doses utilized for neuroblastoma. The growth plates of both the proximal tibia and distal femur may be affected by isotretinoin. This study increases recognition among primary care providers about the potentially harmful side effects of isotretinoin, including premature epiphyseal closure in the pediatric population. This helps providers better educate patients about the risks and benefits of isotretinoin therapy in order for them to make informed decisions. Further clinical research is needed to assess the development of growth plates in the pediatric population while utilizing isotretinoin therapy.