Effective monitoring of isotretinoin safety in a pediatric dermatology population: a novel "patient symptom survey" approach.

Background: Assessment of adverse effects in pediatric patients on oral isotretinoin has not been standardized and the exact incidence is unknown.

Objective: Our goal was to determine the usefulness of an isotretinoin symptom survey as a screening tool for assessment and quantification of adverse effects, including psychiatric symptoms, during isotretinoin treatment in a pediatric population of different age groups.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review on a random sample of patients treated with isotretinoin at a tertiary pediatric dermatology clinic where patients completed an isotretinoin symptom survey at each visit.