ALOPECIA UNIVERSALIS TREATED WITH ORAL CYCLOSPORINE A AND PREDNISOLONE: IMMUNOLOGIC STUDIES

The study investigated the treatment of alopecia universalis, a challenging condition, using immunotherapy in 6 patients. The treatment involved oral administration of cyclosporine A (2.5 mg/kg) and prednisolone (5 mg/day), which led to significant symptomatic improvement without side effects due to the low dosage. More than 6 months post-treatment, no recurrence of alopecia was observed. Immunologic studies showed enhanced function, with increases in cos-positive T cells, NK cells, and C3, and reductions in active CD4 cells, eosinophils, and circulating immune complexes. Histological analysis revealed T-cell infiltration around hair matrices, which resolved after treatment. These findings suggested that immunologic abnormalities were linked to alopecia universalis, and the treatment was effective in addressing these issues.