Twice Weekly 5 mg Dexamethasone Oral Pulse in the Treatment of Extensive Alopecia Areata

The study involved 30 patients with extensive alopecia areata treated with 5 mg dexamethasone oral pulse twice weekly. After a minimum of 12 weeks, 63.3% of patients showed complete to excellent hair growth, 6.7% had good growth, and 10% had poor growth, while 20% had no hair growth. Hair regrowth was typically observed after 5.35 months, with some relapses successfully treated. Mild side effects were noted in 26.6% of patients, leading to discontinuation in one case. The study suggested that this treatment could be a viable option for extensive alopecia areata.