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Hair Loss News Archives
September 2010
Treatment of alopecia areata with prednisone in a once-monthly oral pulse
Hair growth was classified as complete, cosmetically acceptable, incomplete or no growth.
Sept 2010
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Various modalities have been used in the treatment
of alopecia areata (AA), including pulsed oral corticosteroids. The
aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pulsed
oral prednisone in the management of AA.
METHODS:
This was a prospective study in patients with
progressive AA affecting more than 40% of the scalp. All patients
received 5mg/kg (300mg) oral prednisone once a month for 3 to
6months and were examined for adverse effects. Hair growth was
classified as complete, cosmetically acceptable, incomplete or no
growth.
RESULTS:
Thirty-four patients (18 men) with a mean age of
12+/-3years were included. AA was ongoing for a mean 2 (1-17) years.
Thirteen (38%) patients presented multifocal AA, six universalis
(20%), six multifocal with ophiasic pattern (18%), six totalis
(18%), and three ophiasic (6%).
Six patients (18%) had no regrowth. At 3months, incomplete or
cosmetically acceptable response was noted in 28 patients (82%).
At 6months, 14 patients (41%) presented complete response, eight
patients (23%) had a persistent incomplete response, and six
patients (18%) had a persistent cosmetically acceptable response.
Adverse effects were noted in five patients (15%). Variables
predictive for no-growth response were nail involvement (P=0.001),
associated dysimmunity (P=0.017), and universalis form (P=0.050).
CONCLUSION:
A once-monthly oral pulse of 300mg prednisone
appears effective and safe. It can be recommended as first-line
treatment for widespread AA.
PMID: 20804894 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]