The potential efficacy of thalidomide in the treatment of recalcitrant alopecia areata.
Thalidomide has been used in the treatment of many dermatological disorders. This drug is a potent suppressor of IL-12 production which plays a critical role in the development of cellular immune responses mediated by helper T-cells. It induces a drop in helper T-cell counts and a corresponding, though relatively small, rise in suppressor T-cells. It seems that cellular, not humoral, immune mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata. Also, decreased suppressor T-cell numbers in the active disease have been reported. Therefore, it could be postulated that thalidomide, especially in combination with other agents, could be of help in the treatment of resistant cases of alopecia areata.
Namazi
Mohammad Reza
MR
Dermatology Department, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. namazi_mr@yahoo.com
D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013792:Thalidomide