For the isomer of tretinoin used primarily to treat more severe acne, see Isotretinoin. For all-trans-retinoic acid as the metabolite of vitamin A, see Retinoic acid.
Tretinoin, also known as all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), is a medication used for the treatment of acne and acute promyelocytic leukemia.[8][9][10] For acne, it is applied to the skin as a cream, gel or ointment.[10] For acute promyelocytic leukemia, it is effective only when the RARA-PML fusion mutation is present[11] and is taken by mouth for up to three months.[8] Topical tretinoin is also the most extensively investigated retinoid therapy for photoaging.[12]
Common side effects when used as a cream are limited to the skin and include skin redness, peeling, and sun sensitivity.[10] When taken by mouth, side effects include hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, shortness of breath, headache, numbness, depression, skin dryness, itchiness, hair loss, vomiting, muscle pains, and vision changes.[8] Other severe side effects include high white blood cell counts and blood clots.[8] Use during pregnancy is contraindicated due to the risk of birth defects.[8][1] It is in the retinoid family of medications.[9]
^ abcBritish national formulary : BNF 69 (69 ed.). British Medical Association. 2015. pp. 627, 821–822. ISBN978-0-85711-156-2.
^Yoshida H, Kitamura K, Tanaka K, Omura S, Miyazaki T, Hachiya T, et al. (July 1996). "Accelerated degradation of PML-retinoic acid receptor alpha (PML-RARA) oncoprotein by all-trans-retinoic acid in acute promyelocytic leukemia: possible role of the proteasome pathway". Cancer Research. 56 (13): 2945–2948. PMID8674046.
^World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
^"Tretinoin topical". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.