Evaluation of levels of lymphocyte subsets in acne vulgaris patients before and after systemic isotretinoin treatment

Systemic isotretinoin is a retinoic acid derivative that has been successfully used for severe nodulocystic acne. There is not enough data regarding effects of retinoic acid derivatives on lymphocytes in peripheral circulation. In this study, 32 acne vulgaris patients who were indcated for systemic isotretinoin treatment were evaluated by flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood samples taken twice on treatment initiation and 4-6. month of this therapy. CD16/56+ cell values were higher in severe acne patients than moderate severe acne patients, positively correlated with global acne rating scores (GARS) and were found to be a relatable parameter for acne severity when evaluated along with gender (p=0.048; p=0.022, r=0.440; R= 0.795). The mean CD45RA+ cell percentage and absolute cell count was 66.9 ± 6,5 and 1415.2 ± 499.5 cells/μl before the treatment and decreased to 63.9 ± 7.5 ve 1437.3 ± 519.9 cells/μl after the treatment (p=0.013 p=0.168). The mean CD19+ cell percentage and absolute cell count was 8.0 ± 3.1 and 161.3 ± 73.6 cells/μl before treatment and increased to 10 ± 2.7 ve 227.7 ± 108.7 cells/μl after treatment (p=0.007, p=0.011). As a result of our study, CD16/56+ cell levels were found to be a parameter related to acne severity. It was showed that levels of CD45RA+ cells were reduced by treatment, so CD45RA+ cells may play a role in the pathogenesis and severity of acne. Lastly, it can be argued that systemic isotretinoin stimulates proliferation of mature B cells.