Medium-Dose Prednisolone Pulse Therapy in Alopecia Areata
November 2009
in “
Dermato-endocrinology
”
TLDR Medium-dose prednisolone pulse therapy is effective and safe for multifocal alopecia areata but not for more severe forms.
The study "Medium-dose prednisolone pulse therapy in alopecia areata" evaluated the efficacy and safety of this treatment in 23 patients with alopecia areata resistant to topical treatments or rapidly evolving AA. Patients received 100 mg intravenous prednisolone over 3 consecutive days at 1-month intervals for three courses. Results showed significant improvement in 84% of patients with multifocal AA, while those with alopecia totalis and universalis did not respond. One patient with ophiasis type responded but relapsed after 7 months. No major side effects were observed, indicating the treatment was effective and well-tolerated for most patients with multifocal AA. The review of various studies suggested that while medium-dose prednisolone pulse therapy could be beneficial, potential adverse effects required careful monitoring.
