title: Subcutaneous efalizumab is not effective in the treatment of alopecia areata.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alopecia areata (AA) is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease. Efalizumab is a T-cell-targeted therapy approved for the treatment of psoriasis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy and safety of efalizumab in the treatment of moderate-to-severe AA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-two patients were enrolled into this phase II, placebo-controlled trial. The trial consisted of three 12-week periods-a double-blind treatment period, an open-label efalizumab treatment period, and a safety follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistical differences between treatment groups in percent hair regrowth, quality-of-life measures, or changes in biologic markers of disease severity after 12 or 24 weeks. In both groups, there was an approximately 8% response rate for hair regrowth (at 12 weeks). Efalizumab was well tolerated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Numbers were too small for certain analyses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 3- to 6-month trial of efalizumab was not effective in promoting hair regrowth in this small cohort of patients with moderate-to-severe AA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA. pricev@derm.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Vera H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Maria K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Hordinsky
authors.forename: Elise A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Janet L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Elaine C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Siegfried
authors.forename: Elyse S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Rafal
authors.forename: Neil J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Korman
authors.forename: Basel
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Altrabulsi
authors.forename: Hoi M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Marvin R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Garovoy
authors.forename: Ivor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Caro
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Whiting
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D015415:Biomarkers; C472181:efalizumab