Early Intervention with High-Dose Steroid Pulse Therapy Prolongs Disease-Free Interval of Severe Alopecia Areata: A Retrospective Study

This retrospective study on 85 patients with severe alopecia areata (AA) treated between 1999 and 2010 found that high-dose steroid pulse therapy had a satisfactory response rate of 51.8%, with 32.9% achieving complete hair regrowth. Early intervention within one year of disease onset significantly improved response rates and reduced relapse rates, even in severe cases like alopecia totalis and universalis. There was no significant difference in effectiveness between oral and intravenous steroid administration, suggesting oral therapy as a viable first-line treatment. The study concluded that early steroid pulse therapy could prolong the disease-free interval in severe AA.