Lichen Planopilaris Treated by the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ Agonist Pioglitazone: Lack of Lasting Improvement or Cure in the Majority of Patients

    October 2013 in “ Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology ”
    Philipp Spring, Zoi Spanou, Pierre A. de Viragh
    Image of study
    TLDR Pioglitazone usually doesn't effectively treat or cure lichen planopilaris.
    The study evaluated the effectiveness of pioglitazone in treating lichen planopilaris (LPP) in 22 patients who had not responded to conventional treatments. The average patient age was 51, and they were treated with a 15 mg daily dose of pioglitazone for up to one year. Only 3 patients experienced a cessation of disease activity, while 10 stopped treatment after an average of 6 months due to no positive effect. Four patients saw initial improvement, but symptoms returned after stopping the medication. Five patients had a lasting reduction in symptoms but continued to show disease activity. Increasing the dose to 30 mg did not show additional benefits. The study concluded that pioglitazone was not effective for most patients with LPP, suggesting that any improvements might be due to temporary anti-inflammatory effects rather than a cure.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    2 / 2 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 37 results
      Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

      community Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

      in Research  692 upvotes 3 months ago
      Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

      community The Worst Hair Loss Condition You (MAY) have: LPP

      in Research/Science  43 upvotes 2 months ago
      Lichen Planopilaris (LPP) is an autoimmune condition causing permanent hair loss and fibrosis, often misdiagnosed. Treatments include pioglitazone, topical corticosteroids, anti-inflammatory medication, and Jak inhibitors.

      community Anger and frustration as I finally learn my diagnosis.

      in Female  6 upvotes 1 year ago
      A young female diagnosed with Lichen planopilaris (LPP) experienced years of misdiagnosis and ineffective treatments, including a hair transplant and other procedures. She is considering litigation due to the misdiagnosis and has learned that LPP is chronic, hair loss can be stopped with ongoing medication, but lost hair cannot regrow.

      community scarring alopecia awareness in this community

      in Chat  33 upvotes 2 years ago
      Lichen Planopilaris (LPP), a form of permanent hair loss, which can be mistaken for seborrheic dermatitis and is characterized by scalp itching, burning, redness, and dandruff. Treatment options discussed include steroidal creams, finasteride, minoxidil, and RU58841.

      community Making the jump to hair systems

      in Hair Systems  27 upvotes 3 years ago
      19-year-old with Lichen Planopilaris tried various treatments unsuccessfully. Now considering hair systems, seeking experiences and opinions.

      community Clascoterone (Winlevi) Update for Canada

      in Treatment  16 upvotes 2 years ago
      Clascoterone cream was submitted for review to Health Canada in August 2022, with hopes of approval within 3-6 months. It may potentially enhance finasteride's effects for hair loss treatment.

    Similar Research

    5 / 1000+ results