Pulse Corticosteroid Therapy for Alopecia Areata in Children: A Retrospective Study

January 2013 in “ Dermatology ”

Rivka Friedland, Rotem Tal, Moshe Lapidoth, Alex Zvulunov, Dan Ben Amitai

alopecia areata pulse corticosteroids methylprednisolone intravenous high-dose corticosteroids multifocal disease IV corticosteroids

Studysummary This study found that intravenous high-dose pulse corticosteroids resulted in a complete response in 38% of children with alopecia areata, but the majority of responders relapsed within a year.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

This retrospective study investigated the effectiveness and side effects of intravenous high-dose pulse corticosteroids in 24 children with alopecia areata. The treatment involved 8 mg/kg body weight intravenous methylprednisolone administered over 3 consecutive days at 1-month intervals. Results showed that 38% of patients had a complete response, 29% had a partial response, and 33% had no response. Among responders, 81% relapsed within an average of 9.5 months. Side effects were noted in 3 patients but were not severe. Positive prognostic factors included short disease duration (≤6 months), younger age at onset (<10 years), and multifocal disease. The study concluded that careful patient selection is crucial for maximizing the benefits of pulse corticosteroid treatment in children with alopecia areata.

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research British Association of Dermatologists’ Guidelines for the Management of Alopecia Areata 2012

218 citations , April 2012 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This updated guideline from the British Association of Dermatologists discusses current recommendations for managing alopecia areata but reports no new clinical research findings.

research Interest of High-Dose Pulse Corticosteroid Therapy Combined with Methotrexate for Severe Alopecia Areata: A Retrospective Case Series

39 citations , January 2012 in “Dermatology”

In this study, the combination of pulse intravenous corticosteroids and methotrexate was associated with positive hair regrowth in severe alopecia areata patients, with half achieving total regrowth.

research Prognostic Factors in Methylprednisolone Pulse Therapy for Alopecia Areata

27 citations , May 2011 in “Journal of dermatology”

In this study, methylprednisolone pulse therapy was found to be effective for severe alopecia areata patients, especially those with a short disease duration or plurifocal type.

research Alopecia Areata Update

244 citations , January 2010 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

This review discusses treatment options for alopecia areata and suggests tailored treatment plans, noting the challenges posed by spontaneous remission and limited high-quality clinical trials.

research Twice Weekly 5 mg Betamethasone Oral Pulse Therapy in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

22 citations , August 2006 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

This article reports on twice-weekly 5 mg betamethasone oral pulse therapy for alopecia areata but provides no clinical results.

research A Comparison of the Efficacy, Relapse Rate, and Side Effects Among Three Modalities of Systemic Corticosteroid Therapy for Alopecia Areata

97 citations , January 2006 in “Dermatology”

This study found that intramuscular triamcinolone acetonide or pulse therapy effectively treats alopecia areata with manageable side effects, but further strategies are needed to reduce relapse rates.

research Placebo-Controlled Oral Pulse Prednisolone Therapy in Alopecia Areata

141 citations , February 2005 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

In this study, oral prednisolone pulse therapy led to significant hair regrowth in some patients with extensive alopecia areata, whereas no improvement was seen in the placebo group.

research Alopecia Areata Update

49 citations , April 2000 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This article discusses the etiology, clinical features, diagnosis, histopathology, and treatment of alopecia areata but reports no new clinical findings; it emphasizes the palliative nature of current treatments.

research Treatment of Widespread Alopecia Areata in Young Patients with Monthly Oral Corticosteroid Pulse

18 citations , July 1998 in “Pediatric Dermatology”

This study observed that pulsed doses of prednisolone resulted in excellent hair growth in 60% of young patients with widespread alopecia areata after six months, with minimal side effects.

research Pulsed Administration of Corticosteroids in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

117 citations , February 1996 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

This study found that monthly oral prednisolone pulses of 300 mg were effective and safe for treating widespread alopecia areata, with 58.3% of patients achieving cosmetically acceptable hair growth.