Response to minoxidil in severe alopecia areata correlates with T lymphocyte stimulation.
Mitogen-induced T cell blastogenesis was determined in 47 patients with severe alopecia areata, before and after treatment with topical 5% minoxidil, and compared with control values. The group of 36 responders, who demonstrated terminal hair regrowth, showed significantly increased lymphocyte stimulation with concanavalin A and PHA before treatment, which decreased towards control values following hair regrowth. Lymphocytes from non-responders showed no significant differences from controls either before or after treatment. The results suggest that enhanced T cell blastogenesis may predict the response of severe alopecia areata to topical 5% minoxidil therapy.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008914:Minoxidil / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D008914:Minoxidil