Treatment of Severe Alopecia Areata: Combination Therapy Using Systemic Cyclosporine A with Low Dose Corticosteroids

January 2008 in “ Annals of Dermatology ”

Deborah Lee, Doo Jin Oh, Jung‐Wook Kim, Sung Wook Park, Min Kyung Oh, Ho Suk Sung, Seon Wook Hwang

alopecia areata systemic Cyclosporine A corticosteroids AA CsA

Studysummary This study concluded that combining systemic cyclosporine A with low-dose corticosteroids effectively treats severe alopecia areata while maintaining safe cyclosporine A levels in the blood.

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The study concluded that the combination therapy of systemic Cyclosporine A (CsA) with low-dose corticosteroids was effective in treating severe alopecia areata (AA). This approach resulted in achieving a safe, therapeutic concentration of CsA in the peripheral blood, indicating its potential as a viable treatment option for severe cases of AA.

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Research cited in this study

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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 Clobetasol Propionate 0.05% Under Occlusion in the Treatment of Alopecia Totalis/Universalis

146 citations , July 2003 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

In this study, clobetasol propionate 0.05% ointment was found to induce hair regrowth in 28.5% of patients with severe alopecia areata under occlusive conditions, though long-term benefit was limited to 17.8%.

Cyclosporin A-Induced Hair Growth in Mice Is Associated with Inhibition of Calcineurin-Dependent Activation of NFAT in Follicular Keratinocytes

research Cyclosporin A-Induced Hair Growth in Mice Is Associated with Inhibition of Calcineurin-Dependent Activation of NFAT in Follicular Keratinocytes

57 citations , June 2003 in “American Journal of Physiology-cell Physiology”

This study found that cyclosporin A treatment enhances hair growth in mice by inhibiting calcineurin-NFAT1 activity, which alters keratinocyte differentiation and apoptosis-related gene expression in hair follicles.

Treatment of Severe Alopecia Areata: Combination Therapy Using Systemic Cyclosporine A with Low Dose Corticosteroids

Research cited in this study

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

research Placebo-Controlled Oral Pulse Prednisolone Therapy in Alopecia Areata

research Clobetasol Propionate 0.05% Under Occlusion in the Treatment of Alopecia Totalis/Universalis

research Cyclosporin A-Induced Hair Growth in Mice Is Associated with Inhibition of Calcineurin-Dependent Activation of NFAT in Follicular Keratinocytes

research Cyclosporine Combination Therapy in Alopecia Areata

research Partial Response of Severe Alopecia Areata to Cyclosporine A

research Efficacy of Topical Sensitizers in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

research Severe Alopecia Areata Treated With Systemic Corticosteroids

research Alopecia Universalis Treated With Oral Cyclosporine A And Prednisolone: Immunologic Studies