title: Pulse corticosteroid therapy for alopecia areata in children: a retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alopecia areata may occur at any age, though usually before the age of 20 years. Treatment often consists of systemic steroids administered as high-dose bolus infusions. This study sought to investigate the effectiveness and side effects of intravenous high-dose pulse corticosteroids in children with alopecia areata and to identify prognostic factors for successful treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients treated with pulse corticosteroids for alopecia areata in 2001-2008 at the day care unit of a tertiary pediatric medical center were identified by computerized file search and clinical treatment and outcome data were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample included 24 children (16 female, 8 male) with a mean age of 8.5 ± 4.6 years at diagnosis; 8 (33%) had multifocal disease,10 (42%) multifocal disease with ophiasis, 4 (17%) alopecia totalis and 2 (8%) alopecia universalis. Nail involvement was noted in 9 patients (38%). Mean duration of disease was 22 ± 27 months. Patients were treated with 8 mg/kg body weight intravenous methylprednisolone on 3 consecutive days at 1-month intervals. After a mean of 5.65 ± 1.95 courses, 9 patients (38%) had a complete response, 7 (29%) a partial response and 8 (33%) no response. Of the 16 responders, 13 (81%) relapsed at 9.5 ± 12 months after the last course; 3 patients had side effects, none of which were severe. Three positive prognostic factors were identified: short disease duration (≤6 months), younger age at disease onset (<10 years) and multifocal disease (as opposed to severe, diffuse variants).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Careful patient selection is necessary to achieve maximal benefit from pulse corticosteroid treatment for alopecia areata in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel.
authors.forename: Rivka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Friedland
authors.forename: Rotem
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tal
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lapidoth
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zvulunov
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ben Amitai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000505:Alopecia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008775:Methylprednisolone