title: Efficacy and safety of topical calcipotriol in management of alopecia areata: A pilot study.
abstract: Reports have highlighted serum vitamin D deficiency and reduced 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) receptors(VDR) expression on hair follicles of alopecia areata(AA) patients. Very few studies have demonstrated efficacy of topical calcipotriol (vitamin D analogue) in AA. We intended to study the efficacy of calcipotriol lotion 0.005% in AA and correlate its outcome with serum vitamin D levels. We conducted a prospective study, in which 22 patients with AA were treated with calcipotriol lotion 0.005% twice daily for 3 months. Clinico-epidemiological parameters including severity of AA and SALT score were calculated at baseline and at 12 weeks. Hair regrowth was assessed monthly at 4, 8, 12 weeks. Serum vitamin D levels were measured at baseline. After 12 weeks of treatment, hair regrowth was observed in 13 (59.1%) patients. Mean period for onset of disease stabilization and hair regrowth was 4 weeks and 4.21± 2.13 weeks, respectively. Among these 13 patients, SALT50and SALT100was observed in 6(46.2%) and 2(9%) patients, respectively. Response to treatment was better in patients with lower vitamin D levels (p < .009). Topical calcipotriol can be an alternative treatment in AA and it could prove to be more useful in patients who are vitamin D deficient.
authors.affiliation: Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
authors.forename: Tarun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Narang
authors.affiliation: Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
authors.forename: Manju
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daroach
authors.affiliation: Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
authors.forename: M Sendhil
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kumaran
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D014807:Vitamin D; C055085:calcipotriene; D002117:Calcitriol
keywords: SALT score; alopecia areata; calcipotriol; vitamin D