TY - JOUR T1 - Riddle from a love potion JF - Journal of Clinical Pathology JO - J Clin Pathol SP - 334 LP - 335 DO - 10.1136/jclinpath-2020-206561 VL - 74 IS - 5 AU - John A Holley Y1 - 2021/05/01 UR - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/74/5/334.abstract N2 - The case mentioned below concerns one of the most famous personalities in the last 20 years. His name is Thomas ‘Tom’ Marvolo Riddle, better known as Lord Voldemort. He is the villain in the book series and subsequent movies collectively known as ‘Harry Potter’. Mr Riddle is a magical wizard that is reviled as an amoral psychopathic murderer. This article presents his medical symptoms and suggests a possible underlying pathology.First, let us examine Mr Riddle’s prenatal history. He was born to Mrs Merope (Gaunt) Riddle and Mr Thomas Riddle (Senior). At the time of conception and early embryonic development, at least one of the parents was being given a potentially dangerous substance called a ‘love potion’. We believe that the father was given this substance. Whether it was a teratogen is unknown. But we might suspect that his mother was also taking a medication. We know that Mrs Merope Riddle was initially very unattractive and we know that her perceived beauty changed after the drug was given. One currently available and real medication with nearly magical qualities is isotretinoin, which is also known by several brand names including Accutane. It rapidly helps clear the face from scarring and pitting acne. As such, it can reveal underlying beauty. It acts to decrease the size and activity of sebaceous glands, which decreases secretion. Thus, the medication helps make a woman more attractive, and can be considered a ‘love potion’. The medication is X-rated and it causes birth defects.Isotretinoin is a teratogen. It interrupts normal development and is especially harmful during the early phases of embryonic development. Its chemical-related cousins are retinoic acid and their better-known vitamin A. Retinoic … ER -