title: Bilateral treatment for alopecia areata.
abstract: A 4-year-old, otherwise healthy white girl was referred for a 15-month history of alopecia areata. Anthralin 0.1% cream was prescribed for the left side of the scalp, while corticosteroids for the right side. After 4 months, only the right side of the scalp showed hair regrowth. Half-side strategy, that is, treating one side and managing the other--divided by the mid sagittal suture--as an internal control for no treatment, placebo or other treatment, has been commonly used in clinical studies for decades. In everyday practice, bilateral treatment is useful to evaluate the responsiveness to two topically delivered interventions and diminishes the time necessary to identify an effective one.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33125, USA. dtorchia@med.miami.edu
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Torchia
authors.forename: Lawrence A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Schachner
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000875:Anthralin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D012535:Scalp; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D000875:Anthralin