Studies - Extensive alopecia areata treated with betamethasone oral mini-pulse therapy: An open uncontrolled study

BACKGROUND: Extensive alopecia areata is known to respond to daily oral corticosteroids. To minimize the side effects of daily corticosteroids, oral mini-pulse therapy with betamethasone has been used in vitiligo and other dermatoses. There are a few studies in alopecia areata also.
AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of oral mini-pulse therapy in extensive alopecia areata.
METHODS: It is an open study on sixteen adolescents and adults with alopecia areata/ totalis/universalis treated with oral mini-pulse therapy for a minimum period of six months. The patients were evaluated clinically and with serial photographs for response and periodical investigations were undertaken to look for the side effects. All the patients were followed up for 5-8 months to look for any relapse.
RESULTS: Seven (43.7%) patients showed an excellent response and five (31.2%) patients had good response. Two patients (12.5%) had unsatisfactory response and another two (12.5%) were non-responders. There were insignificant / minimal side effects.
CONCLUSION: Oral mini-pulse therapy with betamethasone is a safe and effective therapeutic modality for extensive alopecia areata.