What Your Rivvet Emails Look Like
Each alert brings you one study at a glance — the bottom line, what happened, why it matters, and a link to the right specialist.
Women with Persistent Acne Had a New Option That Worked as Well as Accutane with Fewer Side Effects
From JAMA Dermatology · March 12, 2026 · Read the original study →
The Bottom Line
Low-dose spironolactone achieved comparable acne clearance rates to low-dose isotretinoin in women with persistent adult acne, with fewer reported side effects over 24 weeks.
What Happened
A double-blind randomized controlled trial enrolled 316 women aged 25-40 with moderate-to-severe persistent acne. Half received spironolactone (100 mg/day) and half received low-dose isotretinoin (20 mg/day) for 24 weeks. Both groups showed similar reductions in inflammatory lesions, but the spironolactone group reported significantly fewer mucocutaneous side effects (18% vs. 41%).
Why This Matters
Persistent adult acne affects millions of women, and isotretinoin (commonly known as Accutane) has long been considered the gold standard despite its well-known side effects. This trial was notable for being double-blind and specifically focused on adult women rather than teenagers. The findings suggested that spironolactone could be a well-tolerated alternative for this population. For women who had been hesitant about isotretinoin due to concerns about dryness or other side effects, these results added an evidence-based option to discuss with their dermatologist.
⚠️ This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Always verify information with the original study and discuss with your healthcare provider. Read the original study →
This research is for informational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult your doctor before making any health decisions.
This is an example of what Rivvet Health emails look like.
A Large Heart Study Found That Blood Thinners Still Beat Implanted Devices for Stroke Prevention
From The New England Journal of Medicine · March 22, 2026 · Read the original study →
The Bottom Line
Blood-thinning medication remained the more effective option for preventing strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation, outperforming an implanted heart device over three years of follow-up.
What Happened
Researchers conducted a randomized trial with 912 adults who had atrial fibrillation and were at moderate-to-high risk for stroke. Half received a left atrial appendage closure device and half continued on oral anticoagulants. After three years, the medication group experienced significantly fewer strokes and systemic embolic events.
Why This Matters
This is one of the largest randomized trials to compare these two approaches head-to-head. Previous smaller studies had suggested the device might be beneficial, but this 3-year follow-up with 912 patients provided stronger evidence. For the estimated 2.7 million Americans living with atrial fibrillation, these findings may inform conversations with their cardiologist about the best approach for stroke prevention. The results also highlighted that oral anticoagulants had a well-established safety profile over longer time periods.
⚠️ This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Always verify information with the original study and discuss with your healthcare provider. Read the original study →
This research is for informational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult your doctor before making any health decisions.
This is an example of what Rivvet Health emails look like.