To the Editor.—
We describe two patients in whom, while receiving isotretinoin for severe cystic acne previously uncontrolled by conventional therapy, severe vasculitis developed, one patient with Wegener's granulomatosis and the other patient with small-vessel angiitis.
Report of Cases.—Case 1 (Wegener's Granulomatosis).—
Acne of the face and upper trunk developed in this patient at age 15 years in 1980. In November 1983, he began therapy with isotretinoin orally administered at 80 mg (1.1 mg/kg)/d. For the previous year, he had had a "stuffed-up nose," epistaxis, and a serous otitis media severe enough to require lancing of the tympanic membrane. After six weeks, he had transient migratory joint pains and more severe epistaxis. After 11 weeks, the patient had areas of exuberant, crusted, painful granulation tissue on the chest and shoulders, decreased hearing, and increased nasal congestion. By 14 weeks, he had