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High‐dose intravenous corticosteroid pulse therapy in alopecia areata: Own experience compared with the literature
Author(s) -
Luggen Peter,
Hunziker Thomas
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
jddg: journal der deutschen dermatologischen gesellschaft
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.463
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1610-0387
pISSN - 1610-0379
DOI - 10.1111/j.1610-0387.2007.06608.x
Subject(s) - medicine , alopecia areata , corticosteroid , methylprednisolone , retrospective cohort study , dermatology , prospective cohort study , surgery
Summary Background: Seven prospective studies including 193 patients have been published on high‐dose intravenous corticosteroid pulse therapy in alopecia areata (AA).We compare these data with a retrospective analysis of our own consecutive patients. Patients and Methods: Between 1998 and 2002,25 patients with severe AA were treated at the Department of Dermatology, University of Bern, with infusions of 500 mg methylprednisolone on 3 consecutive days.In addition to the inpatient records, in 2004 all patients were followed up by a questionnaire. Results: Four of 10 patients with multifocal AA and 3 of 9 patients with ophiasis‐type AA had full re‐growth of hair, whereas all 6 patients with AA totalis/universalis failed to respond. Conclusion: Intravenous corticosteroid pulse therapy may be helpful in the treatment of multifocal and ophiasis‐type AA.Patients with an initial episode of short duration have better chances for success.