Alopecia universalis
Alopecia universalis | |
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Former association football referee Pierluigi Collina with alopecia universalis.[citation needed] | |
Specialty | Dermatology |
Alopecia universalis (AU), also known as alopecia areata universalis, is a
Causes
Alopecia universalis can occur at any age, and is currently believed to be an
Treatment
Many treatments have been explored, including
Contact immunotherapy involves the use of contact allergens, such as diphencyprone and squaric acid dibutylester, to induce an immune response that is thought to oppose the action of cells causing hair loss.[6][7][8] A review that combined and analyzed the findings of 45 studies comprising 2,227 patients showed any hair regrowth in 54.5% and complete hair regrowth in 24.9% of patients with AT and AU using contact immunotherapy.[9] In addition to its helpful effects in treating AU, it can have side effects that can be very serious, such as severe dermatitis.[6][10]
Topical and intralesional corticosteroids, such as clobetasol propionate, have also shown to be an effective treatment for AT and AU patients.[6][7] A controlled study comprising 28 patients found positive terminal hair growth in eight of the patients (28.5%) using a 0.05% clobetasol propionate ointment.[11] This is very similar to the results obtained from immunotherapy treatment trials. Additionally, studies suggest that intralesional applications are much more effective than topical applications of steroids. However, the main side effect is increased risk of cutaneous atrophy at the site of treatment;[7] folliculitis is also an occasional complication.[8]
Janus kinase inhibitors, previously used in the treatment of cancer and other diseases, such as arthritis, have successfully shown to be effective in the initial trials of treatment for alopecia patients.[6][7][12] Multiple cases of treatments have been successful, one of them being of a 22-year-old man with a history of AU and atopic dermatitis (AD). This man was treated with JAK inhibitor tofacitinib, and after ten months, he experienced hair regrowth on all of his affected body parts and subsequent improvement of his AD.[13][14] Current research and findings suggest that systemic JAK inhibitors eliminate and prevent the development of AA, while topical JAK inhibitors promote hair regrowth and reverse the established disease.[8][15] Many clinical trials are ongoing involving JAK inhibitors such as ruxolitinib and tofacitinib.[6][16]
See also
References
- ^ "Alopecia universalis | Disease | Overview | Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) – an NCATS Program". rarediseases.info.nih.gov. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
- ^ Nancy Garrick, Deputy Director (4 April 2017). "Alopecia Areata". National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- PMID 17941369. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- PMID 17388216.
- ^ "Hairless Man Grows Full Head Of Hair In Yale Arthritis Drug Trial". CBS Boston. 2014-06-19. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
- ^ ISBN 9783319721347
- ^ PMID 29769777.
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