A call for action—prevention of fetal exposure to isotretinoin. a position paper by the organization of teratology information services public affairs committee

Members of the Organization of Teratology Information Services counsel over 100,000 American and Canadian women and their health professionals every year on teratogenic risks. We continue to encounter alarming numbers of cases of serious fetal risks in women of childbearing age who are receiving Accutane for a variety of skin conditions. Aggregate data from 16 Teratology Information Services indicate that there was no apparent decrease in fetal exposure to Accutane reports for the period 1995-1999. This is of great concern due to the high teratogenic risk of Accutane use during pregnancy, and the increase in prescription of the drug to young fecund women.