Large doses of glucocorticoid in the treatment of alopecia areata.
Severe extensive alopecia areata (totalis) was treated with prednisolone as a single 2 g dose i.v. (22 patients) or 0.5 g daily for 5 days orally (13 patients). Four of the patients responded well, 12 had a poor response and 19 had no response. There was a relapse in some at about 6 months, which could be arrested by a further single i.v. dose, but the risks of this form of therapy are unclear and it cannot be recommended for general use. The clinical response to a single dose of corticosteroid implies, however, that there may be a 'switch' mechanism in certain auto-immune diseases, with an all-or-none response.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
D011239:Prednisolone