Safety and efficacy of adalimumab for the treatment of severe alopecia areata: case series of three patients.
BACKGROUND
Current therapeutic options for extensive alopecia areata (AA) often lead to disappointing results.


OBJECTIVE
To study the efficacy and safety of adalimumab in patients with severe AA.


METHODS
This was a prospective, open-label, single-center, pilot study. Three subjects of the planned 10 were enrolled and received two weekly subcutaneous (SC) loading doses of adalimumab 80 mg followed by 40 mg SC every week for 6 months. Patients were evaluated for efficacy and safety on a monthly basis.


RESULTS
Enrolment in this trial was stopped following publication of studies showing no improvement in patients with AA treated with tumor necrosis factor α antagonists. One patient had a favorable response to adalimumab, whereas the two other patients had no benefit from the therapy. Adalimumab was well tolerated by patients with AA.


CONCLUSIONS
Adalimumab was well tolerated in patients with AA but did not induce clinically significant hair regrowth.
Innovaderm Resarch Inc, Monreal, QC.
Chantal
C
Bolduc
Robert
R
Bissonnette
D000068879:Adalimumab; D000328:Adult; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068879:Adalimumab