Mesalazine in the Treatment of Extensive Alopecia Areata: A New Therapeutic Option?

The study retrospectively analyzed five patients (aged 2-17 years) with extensive and refractory alopecia areata (AA) treated with mesalazine, with or without oral prednisolone and topical betamethasone/minoxidil. All patients experienced complete growth of terminal hair without abnormal laboratory results or drug side effects. The findings suggested that mesalazine, in combination with topical treatments, could be an effective option for extensive AA, potentially reducing the need for prolonged oral corticosteroid use and minimizing relapses. However, controlled studies were needed to confirm these results.