title: Topical immunotherapy with diphenylcyclopropenone in the treatment of chronic extensive alopecia areata.
abstract: Highly variable results have been described for the use of topical diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) in the treatment of alopecia areata (AA). We enrolled 41 patients in a prospective open clinical trial. Of these, 17 patients had either AA totalis (AAT) or AA universalis (AAU), and 24 had severe alopecia (> 50% scalp involvement). After sensitization with DPCP 2% in acetone, progressively higher concentrations were applied once a week for a period of 6-12 months. Of the 41 patients, 38 (16 with AAT or AAU and 22 with extensive AA) completed therapy. Significant hair regrowth was observed in 15 of the 38 patients (39.5%) at 6 months: 5 with AAT or AAU (31.25%) and 10 with extensive alopecia (45.4%). The above results were sustained in 66.6% of patients for a 12-month-follow up- period. In our study, topical immunotherapy with DPCP proved to be an effective treatment, with prolonged therapeutic results.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Dermatology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sotiriadis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patsatsi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lazaridou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kastanis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vakirlis
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chrysomallis
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D003521:Cyclopropanes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D003521:Cyclopropanes; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; C029402:diphenylcyclopropenone