TLDR Careful patient selection is key for effective pulse corticosteroid treatment in children with alopecia areata.
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.
Cited in this study
5 / 5 results
218 citations
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May 2012 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Guidelines suggest various treatments for alopecia areata, but leaving it untreated is also an option as 80% cases may recover on their own.
39 citations
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January 2012 in “Dermatology” Combining high-dose corticosteroids with methotrexate may be effective and safe for severe alopecia areata.
27 citations
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May 2011 in “Journal of dermatology” Methylprednisolone pulse therapy works best for recent and specific types of severe alopecia areata.
244 citations
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February 2010 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” The document says current treatments for alopecia areata do not cure or prevent it, and it's hard to judge their effectiveness due to spontaneous remission and lack of studies.
49 citations
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April 2000 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Despite progress in treatment, the exact cause of Alopecia areata is still unknown.
6 citations
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December 2022 in “Journal of autoimmunity” JAK inhibitors like tofacitinib may effectively treat Alopecia Areata.
October 2022 in “Journal of Armed Forces Medical College, Bangladesh” Tofacitinib is effective and safe for treating alopecia areata.
39 citations
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April 2016 in “Case Reports in Dermatology” Tofacitinib temporarily regrew hair in a man with alopecia, but its effects didn't last.
5 citations
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June 2015 in “Veterinary dermatology” A dog with complete hair loss regrew most hair after treatment, with no relapse after stopping treatment.
39 citations
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April 2003 in “Australasian journal of dermatology” PUVA treatment led to significant hair regrowth in over half of the patients with alopecia areata totalis and universalis.
