Oral administration of cyclosporin A in patients with severe alopecia areata.
Alopecia areata is a chronic, nonscarring hair loss condition with an unpredictable course that may cause emotional stress in affected patients. Regarding its pathogenesis, the most accepted theory is that alopecia areata is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune condition that is most likely to occur in genetically predisposed individuals. Cyclosporin A is an immunosuppressive agent that has provided new approaches in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Hypertrichosis, one of the common side effects of orally administered cyclosporin A, encouraged a number of investigators to use the drug in the treatment of alopecia areata, but the reports on this subject have been controversial. We present a small series of patients with severe alopecia areata treated systemically with cyclosporin A at a dose of 3-5 mg/kg for 6 months as well as their 3-month follow-up after cessation of the drug.
Rallis
E
E
Department of Dermatology, Veterans Administration Hospital (NIMTS) of Athens, Greece. efrall@otenet.gr
Nasiopoulou
A
A
Kouskoukis
C
C
Roussaki-Schulze
A
A
Koumantaki
E
E
Karpouzis
A
A
Arvanitis
A
A
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000145:classification* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine