Alteration of Serum and Tissue Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Levels: A Possible Mechanism of Action of Oral Pulse Steroids in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

    October 2018 in “ Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology ”
    Dalia Abdel Halim, Ola M. Abu Zeid, Laila Rashed, Marwah Adly Saleh
    TLDR Oral pulse steroids reduce TNF-α levels, improving alopecia areata.
    The study investigated the effect of oral pulse steroids on TNF-α levels in 20 patients with alopecia areata (AA). Results showed that both serum and tissue TNF-α levels were significantly higher in AA patients compared to controls before and after treatment. However, TNF-α levels significantly dropped after treatment, correlating positively with clinical improvement. The findings suggested that TNF-α played a crucial role in AA and that altering its levels could be a key mechanism by which oral pulse steroids treat AA.
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