Comparison of High-Dose Corticosteroid Pulse Therapy and Combination Therapy Using Oral Cyclosporine with Low-Dose Corticosteroid in Severe Alopecia Areata.
- Author:
In Kwon YEO
1
;
Eun Jung KO
;
Yeon A NO
;
Ee Seok LIM
;
Kui Young PARK
;
Kapsok LI
;
Beom Joon KIM
;
Seong Jun SEO
;
Myeung Nam KIM
;
Chang Kwun HONG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Alopecia areata; Cyclosporine; Pulse therapy
- MeSH: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Alopecia Areata*; Alopecia*; Cyclosporine*; Hair; Humans; Retrospective Studies
- From:Annals of Dermatology 2015;27(6):676-681
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND: Severe alopecia areata (AA) is resistant to conventional treatment. Although systemic oral corticosteroids are an effective treatment for patients with severe AA, those drugs have many adverse effects. Corticosteroid pulse therapy has been introduced to increase therapeutic effects and reduce adverse effects. However, the treatment modality in severe AA is still controversial. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of corticosteroid pulse therapy in patients with severe AA compared with treatment with oral cyclosporine with corticosteroid. METHODS: A total of 82 patients with severe AA were treated with corticosteroid pulse therapy, and 60 patients were treated with oral cyclosporine with corticosteroid. Both groups were retrospectively evaluated for therapeutic efficacy according to AA type and disease duration. RESULTS: In 82 patients treated with corticosteroid pulse therapy, 53 (64.6%) were good responders (>50% hair regrowth). Patients with the plurifocal (PF) type of AA and those with a short disease duration (< or =3 months) showed better responses. In 60 patients treated with oral cyclosporine with corticosteroid, 30 (50.0%) patients showed a good response. The AA type or disease duration, however, did not significantly affect the response to treatment. CONCLUSION: Corticosteroid pulse therapy may be a better treatment option than combination therapy in severe AA patients with the PF type.
