Subcutaneous efalizumab is not effective in the treatment of alopecia areata.
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.
Price
Vera H
VH
Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA. pricev@derm.ucsf.edu
Hordinsky
Maria K
MK
Olsen
Elise A
EA
Roberts
Janet L
JL
Siegfried
Elaine C
EC
Rafal
Elyse S
ES
Korman
Neil J
NJ
Altrabulsi
Basel
B
Leung
Hoi M
HM
Garovoy
Marvin R
MR
Caro
Ivor
I
Whiting
David A
DA
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
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D015415:Biomarkers; C472181:efalizumab