The rates of major malformations after gestational exposure to isotretinoin: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective

Isotretinoin is among the most notorious human teratogens, documented originally as causing up to 30% of malformations. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the rates of major malformation (MM) among isotretinoin-exposed pregnant women over the years through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

Eligible studies were searched and identified using various databases. Single-arm meta-analysis and meta-analysis of odd ratios among controlled studies were performed using Review Manager version 5.3.

Results

Ten eligible studies that combined 2,783 isotretinoin-exposed women were included in our study. The rate of MM weighted for the sample size was 15%. Three studies that included an unexposed comparison group were eligible for the meta-analysis. The pooled odds ratio of MM for isotretinoin-exposed women was 3.76. After 2006, the pooled odds ratio of MM for isotretinoin exposure was significantly lower at 1.04.

Conclusion

The current rate of MM in isotretinoin-exposed women was substantially lower after 2006.

Introduction

Isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid) was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for cystic, recalcitrant acne in 1982 [1]. As the most notorious teratogen since thalidomide, isotretinoin has been shown to adversely affect the development of the brain, face, palate, heart, spinal cord, ear, and thymus [2]. The causality of isotretinoin has been shown in both animal and human studies, and there is a recognizable pattern involving the cranial face, heart, thymus, and brain. It has been estimated to be caused by a common teratogenic mechanism, such as an inhibitory effect on normal activity and the interactive influence of neural crest cells [3]. The teratogenic mechanism of isotretinoin on neural crest cells is caused by changes in cytosolic calcium, bleb formation, and cell death in neural crest cells treated with isotretinoin and 4-oxo-isotretinoin [4].

The rate of major malformation (MM) was originally reported to be approximately 30% [3], and isotretinoin-exposed fetuses exhibited 30% mental retardation even in the absence of gross malformations and up to 60% poor performance in neuropsychological tests [5]. There are several limitations in estimating the accurate figure of teratogenic risk of isotretinoin, including various rates of MMs among published studies, and no accurate dose- and gestational age dependence. Additionally, while the elimination of the half-lives of isotretinoin and its active metabolite, 4-oxo-isotretinoin, have been reported at 29 and 22 hours, respectively, in extreme cases, the half-lives can be as long as a week [6].

There is some evidence that there is a lower occurrence of MM after exposure to lower dosages [7,8]. Importantly, the introduction of active pregnancy prevention programs for isotretinoin after 2005 probably resulted in lower rates of fetal exposure to the drug and higher rates of artificial abortion if exposure has occurred [9–11]. The aim of the present study was to update the estimates of the total rates and odds ratios (ORs) of MMs by a systematic review and meta-analysis based on all published data.

Materials and methods

1. Search strategy

Two reviewers (E.J.C and N.R.K) independently screened the references by titles and abstracts, followed by full-text assessment. Studies were selected for the meta-analysis based on the following inclusion criteria: 1) cross-sectional or cohort studies; 2) women exposed to isotretinoin during the peri-conception or pregnancy periods; 3) the study reported all adverse pregnancy outcomes; and 4) the study reported all birth outcomes, including malformations. In case of disagreement among reviewers during the selection process, a third reviewer served as a tie breaker (H.S.K and H.J.H). Reviews, animal studies, letters to the editor, and case reports as articles without full English text were excluded.

2. Data extraction and quality assessment

All extracted data were double-checked, and discrepancies were resolved by discussion. The following information was extracted from the included studies if available: the first author’s name, year of publication, study design, location, assessment criteria of isotretinoin exposure, information on isotretinoin exposure (dosage, period, exposure timing); pregnancy outcomes; birth outcomes; congenital malformation; and the assessment criteria for MM and rate of congenital malformations among the unexposed control group. MM was defined as a physical or anatomical abnormality detected at birth and classified according to the categories listed in UpToDate [12].

Two independent authors (H.S.K and J.Y.H) assessed the quality of each included study using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) system [13]. A “star system” of NOS has been developed in which a study is judged on three broad perspectives: the selection of the study groups (four stars); the comparability of the groups (two stars); and the ascertainment of either the exposure or outcome of interest (three stars) for case-control or cohort studies respectively. Each criterion scores 1 star, except comparability, which scores up to two stars. The maximum NOS scores were 9.

3. Statistical analysis

MM rates among the isotretinoin-exposed pregnant women were adjusted for sample size as extracted from the articles to calculate proportions and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) using meta-analysis of single proportions. This analysis aimed to calculate the overall proportion of studies reporting only isotretinoin, regardless of the comparison group.

We used a random-effects model (DerSimonian and Laird method with Mantel-Haenszel procedure) to assess the differences in MM rate between pregnant women unexposed and isotretinoin-exposed pregnant women and calculated the pooled OR and 95% CI. The Cochrane Q test and I² statistic were used to examine the heterogeneity. Heterogeneity was quantified as low with I² <25%, moderate with I² ≥25% and ≤75%, and high with I² >75%. We also performed subgroup analyses according to studies published before and after 2006. The meta-analyses were performed using the “meta” package of the R software (v. 3.5.1, R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria) and Review Manager v5.3 (http://ims.cochrane.org/revman).

Results

1. Study characteristics

The search identified 142 articles, of which 35 duplicates were removed. After screening the titles and abstracts, 107 full-text articles were assessed, with an additional study located in the cited articles. Overall, 97 patients did not meet the selection criteria (Fig. 1). The characteristics of the 10 included studies are presented in Table 1. We performed a quality assessment of the 10 included studies using the NOS system, which is suitable for case-control studies (Table 1). The NOS scores ranged from 6 to 9 (mean=7.6). All of them were assigned an NOS score of 6 or above and were not judged to be at high risk of bias (score <4) [14].

Fig. 1.

Database flow chart for meta-analysis.

Table 1.

Characteristics of the studies included in the systematic review

Reference	Location	Study design	Study period (yr)	Unexposure group	Criterion of exposure	Period of exposure (day)	Daily dose of exposure (mg/day)	Exposed pregnancies (n)	Elective abortion (%)	Qualtiy assesssment scorea)
Lammer et al. [2]	USA	Prospective/retrospective cohort study	1982–1984	Include	From 5 days before conception date	7–124	0.5–1.5/kg	154	62	8
Dai et al. [3]	USA	Prospective/retrospective cohort study	1982–1989	None	After the conception date	NA	40–80	433	44	7
Mitchell et al. [19]	USA	Prospective cohort study	1989–1993	None	From 4 weeks before conception date	NA	NA	402	72	6
Cheetham et al. [16]	USA	Retrospective cohort study	2000–2004	None	Pregnancy occurred at time of treatment	NA	NA	17	82	6
Bérard et al. [15]	Canada	Prospective population-based study	1984–2002	None	From 4 weeks before conception date	60.5±54.3 (mean±SD)	39.4 (mean)	90	84	8
Garcia-Bournissen et al. [17]	Israel, Italy, Canada	Prospective cohort study	1998–2006	None	From 4 weeks before conception date	NA	NA	43	53	7
Schaefer et al. [20]	Germany	Observational prospective study	1993–2008	Include	From 4 weeks before conception date	NA	5–60 (median: 20)	91	76	9
Shin et al. [10]	USA	Retrospective cohort study	2004–2008	None	From 4 weeks before conception date	18 (mean)	NA	29	55	8
Zomerdijk et al. [21]	Netherlands	Retrospective population-based study	1999–2007	Include	From 4 weeks before conception date	7–236 (median: 63)	NA	51	NA	8
Henry et al. [18]	Canada	Retrospective cohort study	1996–2011	None	The birth up to 42 weeks after the end of treatment	30–152 (IQR)	43.7±23.1 (mean±SD)	1,473	71	8

NA, not available; SD, standard deviation; IQR, interquartile range.

^a)Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale for cohort studies.

2. Systematic review

Ten studies were finally included in the meta-analysis [2,3,10,15–21]. For the pairwise meta-analysis, seven studies were excluded because of the absence of a comparison group. Three studies were included in the meta-analysis [2,20,21].

The 10 studies included in the single-arm analysis included 2,783 participants exposed to isotretinoin during the peri-conception and pregnancy periods. The abortion rate among the isotretinoin-exposed pregnant women was 80%, and 65% of them were confirmed to have elective abortion. There were 380 total births, with normal births without MM at 309. Additional data on the malformations and pregnancy outcomes are presented in Tables 2 and 3.

Table 2.

Pregnancy outcome and birth outcomes of studies included in the systematic review

Reference	Exposed pregnancies	Spontaneous abortion	IUFDa)	Total birth	Normal birth	Congenital malformationsb)	Major congenital malformations	Outcome of major malformation
Lammer et al. [2]	154	12 (7.8)	12	35	26	9	9	Cranium and face, heart, thymus, CNS, combination
Dai et al. [3]	433	21 (4.8)	0	94	61	33	26	Cardiovascular, craniofacial, CNS
Mitchell et al. [19]	402	76 (18.9)c)	1	32	25	7	6	Ear, eye craniofacial, brain, hypoplastic scrotum, confluent eyebrows
Cheetham et al. [16] Bérard et al. [15]	17 90	2 (11.8) 3 (3.3)	0 2	1 9	1 6	0 3	0 1	NA Congenital anomaly of face and neck diagnosed at 3 years old
Garcia-Bournissen et al. [17]	43	1 (2.3)	0	14	12	NA	2	Anotia, heart malformation
Schaefer et al. [20]	91	5 (5.5)	0	18	15d)	3	1	Ventricular septal defect
Shin et al. [10]	29	3 (10.3)	0	9	8	1	1	Polydactyly of fingers
Zomerdijk et al. [21]	51	NA	3	50	48d)	2	2	Neural tube defect, major congenital anomaly not further specified
Henry et al. [18]	1,473	290 (19.7)	0	118	107	11	11	NA

Values are presented as number (%).

IUFD, intrauterine fetal death; CNS, central nervous system; NA, not available.

^a)Fetal demise above 20 weeks of gestation;

^b)Major malformation+minor malformations;

^c)Added ectopic pregnancy;

^d)Include twins.

Table 3.

Characteristics of studies included in the meta-analysis

Reference	Isotretinoin-unexposed pregnanies		Isotretinoin-exposed pregnanies
	Total pregnancies	Major congenital malformation	Total pregnancies	Abortiona)	IUFDb)	Normal birth	Congenital malformationsc)	Major congenital malformations
Lammer et al. [2]	27,866	194 (0.7)	154	107	12	26	9	9 (cranium and face, heart, thymus, CNS, combination)
Schaefer et al. [20]	329	12 (3.6)	91	74	0	15d)	3	1 (ventricular septal defect)
Zomerdijk et al. [21]	208,108	9,041 (4.3)	51	0	3	48d)	2	2 (neural tube defect, major congenital anomaly not further specified)

IUFD, intrauterine fetal death; CNS, central nervous system.

^a)Elective abortion+spontaneous abortion;

^b)Fetal demise above 20 weeks of gestation;

^c)Major malformation+minor malformations;

^d)Include twins.

3. MM rates among isotretinoin-exposed pregnant women

First, a random-effect single-arm meta-analysis was performed in 11 studies using the MM rates of isotretinoin-exposed pregnant women. MM was confirmed in 59 of the 380 births, and the pooled MM rate was 15% (95% CI, 9–23%) (Fig. 2). Significant heterogeneity was detected (I²=56%, P=0.01) because of lower MM rates in published studies from 2006.

Fig. 2.

Random-effect single-arm meta-analysis of major malformation prevalence in isotretinoin exposure of the 10 included studies. CI, confidence interval.

Subsequently, a random-effect pair-wise meta-analysis was performed on three studies comparing the MM assessment of isotretinoin-exposed groups versus the unexposed group. In the unexposed group, MM was confirmed in 9,247 of 236,302 births (3.9%). In the isotretinoin-exposed group, MM was confirmed in 12 of the 118 births, with a pooled overall OR of 3.76 (95% CI, 0.13–110.35) (Fig. 3). Significant heterogeneity was found (I²=95%, P<0.001) due to a study published before 2006, where the MM rate was higher than that after 2006. After 2006, the analysis demonstrated no significant heterogeneity (I²=0%, P=0.65). The test for subgroup differences was significant (I²=95.9%, P<0.001). After 2006, the pooled OR of MM for isotretinoin exposure was significantly lower at 1.04 (95% CI, 0.32–3.35; I²=0%).

Fig. 3.

Meta-analysis of odd ratios: the major congenital malformation in birth of isotretinoin exposed women with subgroup analysis of the studies published before 2006 vs. after. CI, confidence interval.

Discussion

The rate of elective abortion in isotretinoin-exposed pregnancies has not declined until recently. Fig. 4 shows the rate of elective abortion in isotretinoin-exposed pregnancies according to published studies. The average rate of elective abortion was 65% (range, 44–84%). MacDonald et al. [22] reported an elective termination rate of 28%. They reported that the rate of elective termination was lower than that reported in other studies. MacDonald et al. [22] calculated this rate based on the exposure criteria of 90 days before the last menstrual period (LMP) to the end of pregnancy. The rate of elective abortion was 42% during 30 days before LMP and 57% from LMP to LMP+30 days. This study was not accepted as a systematic review because it excluded data on malformation (number of babies, malformation description). The rates of elective abortion varied depending on the timing of isotretinoin exposure. Following exposure to isotretinoin, the rate of elective abortion during pregnancy was similar to that of elective abortion during the 30 days before LMP. The elective abortion rate is approximately 20% during the timeframe ranging from 90 days before LMP to 31 days before LMP [22]. The iPLEDGE program was implemented in 2006 to reduce fetal exposure to isotretinoin. Although the number of pregnancy-related adverse events in patients taking isotretinoin has decreased since 2006, pregnancy, abortion, and fetal defects associated with isotretinoin exposure continue to be a problem [23]. In Korea, the incidence of isotretinoin exposure is approximately 3 pregnancies per 10,000 births [24]. A risk management program (RMP) of isotretinoin as a pregnancy prevention program was launched in June 2019. However, the compliance of the RMP was not or much less effective than the iPLEDGE program.

Fig. 4.

The rate of elective abortion in isotretinoin-exposed pregnancy as per published studies (Lammer et al. [3], Dai et al. [4], Mitchell et al. [19], Cheetham et al. [16], Bérard et al. [15], Garcia-Bournissen et al. [17], Schaefer et al. [20], Shin et al. [10], Henry et al. [18], and MacDonald et al. [22]). The average rate of elective abortion was 42% during 4 weeks before conception and 57% during pregnancy.

In the included studies, the NOS scores ranged from 6 to 9 and were judged to be at a low risk of bias [14]. According to our systematic review and meta-analysis, the rate of MM in studies weighted for sample size in pregnant women exposed to isotretinoin is 15%. In the three studies with both exposed and unexposed groups, the ORs of MM were 3.76. Importantly, after 2006, the ORs of MM for isotretinoin exposure were substantially lower at 1.04. These figures are different from those published and advertised after the first studies showing a malformation rate of up to 30% to 1% [2,3,21]. This huge variability in the rate of MM has caused confusion for the exposed pregnant women, their families, and medical providers. In our experience in counseling, we had no choice but to quote a higher figure of up to 30% risk. Pregnant women may have misperception or excessive fear due to this information and are likely to choose to terminate pregnancy. In Canada between 1984 and 2002, 90 of 8,609 women aged 13–45 years who took isotretinoin became pregnant, and 76 (84%) of them chose to terminate their pregnancy [15]. Similarly, in the United States, 72% of women who became pregnant while taking isotretinoin terminated their pregnancy [19].

In the present study, the rate of MM (15%) is based on larger sample sizes and is statistically more powerful than the initial estimates. In other words, 85% of fetuses exposed in utero to isotretinoin are likely to be delivered without MM.

Our study clearly shows that there is a difference in ORs before and after 2006. The OR, 1.04, after 2006 was much lower than that of all studies lumped together (3.76). This difference may be explained by current smaller doses and possibly shorter duration of isotretinoin exposure during pregnancy. In terms of exposure dose, the highest dose was up to 87.3 mg/day before 2006 and only 43.7 mg after 2006. Regarding the duration of isotretinoin exposure during pregnancy, the last dose before 2006 was up to 10 weeks after conception, compared to 30 days of gestation after 2006. However, as a word of caution, the reported exposure dose and length have not been clearly reported based on their description in many of the included articles.

However, recently, there has been a tendency to reduce the dose and duration of isotretinoin regimen for acne treatment. The efficacy of isotretinoin at 0.5–1.0 mg/kg per day in the treatment of acne is well established in 1980 for the first time [25]. Since then, many other studies have confirmed its efficacy in a low-dose isotretinoin dose of 0.5–1.0 mg/kg per day [26–28]. The significant improvement in the administration of low-dose isotretinoin (0.25–0.5 mg/kg/day for 3–6 months) in acne vulgaris was seen between 81% and 100% of varying duration. Due to the fewer side effects and greater patient satisfaction, low-dose isotretinoin can be considered in the treatment of moderate-to-severe acne [29].

In addition, isotretinoin therapy was associated with changes in plasma levels of homocysteine and folic acid in patients with acne. Patients treated with a higher cumulative dose of isotretinoin had markedly high homocysteine and low folic acid levels [30]. Kriangkrai et al. [31] suggested that folic acid reduced the teratogenic effects of isotretinoin-induced cellular damage in developing midfacial processes in rat embryos [31]. Folic acid is known to play an integral role in embryonic development.

To our knowledge, this study is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to describe the changing rate of reported MM after in utero isotretinoin exposure. The larger sample size in the study articles makes the results of this meta-analysis more stable and reliable. The rate of MM can help us provide more accurate information on pregnant women exposed to isotretnoin. In addition, the study indicates that further research is required on the dose and time response of isotretinoin.

There are several limitations to our study that need to be acknowledged. First, our meta-analysis included only three studies that compared the rates of MM in exposed and unexposed groups, and these studies were performed in different countries. Second, the limited sample sizes and inconsistent characteristics of the included articles prevented us from further analyzing the teratogenic risk in the subgroup analysis according to dose or gestation time and categorization of MM in the included studies. Third, there were numerous abortions of pregnancy and loss to follow-up, which may have underestimated the MM rates. Fourth, the quality assessment of the selected studies suggested that not all the studies were of high quality, which may have affected the accuracy of the results. Finally, we only evaluated MM as a fetal outcome. We could not evaluate long-term neurological impairment that might be much more concerning for parents and medical providers. While more long-term studies should be performed in the future, the present study suggests that the fetal risk of MM after in utero isotretinoin exposure may be lower than originally reported, changing the information that should be provided to expecting parents.