High-dose pulse corticosteroid therapy in the treatment of severe alopecia areata

Objective: The present monocenter prospective study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous high-dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy in patients with severe alopecia areata (AA). Methods: 30 patients (aged 14-56 years) were treated with methylprednisolone (8 mg/kg body weight) intravenously on 3 consecutive days at 4-week intervals for at least 3 courses. Results: 67% of patients with AA plurifocalis showed >50% regrowth of hair. None of the patients with AA totalis or universalis and only 1 patient with ophiasic AA responded to therapy. In patients with AA plurifocalis, higher response rates could be observed in those suffering from long-term disease compared to patients treated during their first episodes of AA (73 vs. 57%). Conclusion: High-dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for patients with severe AA plurifocalis but might be less beneficial for patients with ophiasic AA, AA totalis or universalis. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.