Blood tests unnecessary for women during acne treatment

New York, March 23: For young, healthy women taking a drug to treat hormol acne, frequent blood tests are nothing but unnecessary health care expenses, researchers have said. The research reported in the jourl JAMA Dermatology found that for the approximately 1,000 patients who took the medicine spironolactone, blood tests to monitor potassium levels did not change the course of treatment but the tests cumulatively totalled up to $80,000 (Rs. 49,82,396). “The need for testing may be a deterrent for both physicians and patients alike,” said Arash Mostaghimi from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH). “By demonstrating that for young, healthy women, it is safe to give spironolactone without close potassium monitoring, we hope that more patients will be able to benefit from this medication,” Mostaghimi noted. Spironolactone has been used in the clinic since 1959.  (IANS)