Plaque Of Alopecia Research Articles

Mesalazine in the Treatment of Extensive Alopecia Areata: A New Therapeutic Option?

Background:Alopecia areata (AA) is a T-lymphocyte-mediated disease that results in alopecia plaques or diffuses alopecia on the scalp and body. Etiologic factors include genetic and autoimmune susceptibility. Treatment modalities are usually considered according to the extent of hair loss and the patient's age. Since there is no approved treatment by the US Food and Drug Administration, treatment options and combinations available are off-label. Patients with extensive AA (including totalis and universalis) have a low rate of spontaneous remission and poor treatment response. Extensive AA is usually associated with severe emotional distress, social discomfort, bullying, and other psychological problems for the child and family. In this context, the need for new therapeutic schemes is clear.Materials and Methods:We retrospectively analyzed five patients (aged 2–17 years) with extensive and refractory AA who were treated with mesalazine associated or not with oral prednisolone and topical betamethasone/minoxidil.Results:We observed complete growth of terminal hair in all patients. No patient had abnormal laboratory results or manifested drug side effects.Conclusions:In extensive and refractory AA cases, the topical treatment combined with mesalazine may provide excellent results, reducing the need for extended oral corticosteroids courses. Besides that, mesalazine seems to minimize relapses on discontinuation of oral steroids. Controlled studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of this combination.

Long-standing Plaque of Alopecia on the Scalp

Long-standing Plaque of Alopecia on the Scalp

Anidulafungin-Induced Alopecia

To report a case of a woman in whom alopecia appeared after several months of treatment with anidulafungin. A 34-year-old woman with chronic femoral osteomyelitis with the presence of persistent suppuration, developed a Candida albicans infection, isolated in the fistula exudate cultures. After initial failures of single therapy with azoles, it was decided to administer fluconazole and anidulafungin 100 mg/d. One month after starting the treatment, the patient mentioned a greater hair loss than usual. At 3 months, the patient stopped taking the drug on noting the loss and easy falling out of her hair, with alopecia plaques 1 to 2 cm in size. At 2 months after stopping the anidulafungin, it was decided to restart combined antifungal treatment using micafungin and fluconazole; there was no mention of new or greater loss of hair. It was decided to change micafungin to anidulafungin again 90 days after starting treatment. In the first month of treatment, there appeared to be a reactivation in hair loss that later stabilized and improved. Drug-induced hair loss is an adverse reaction that has been identified during different hair growth phases. It has been described for the azoles group and has not been associated with candins until now. Results of the causality analysis, using the probability scale established by Naranjo, found the relationship as probable. Anidulafungin could be associated with hair loss. Physicians must be aware of this adverse effect in order to approach it properly and to detect possible nonadherence to treatment.

Ophiasis; report of two cases.

Ophiasis is a form of alopecia areata. It is relatively rare, but deserves special mention because of its different morphology, localization, and prognosis. Alopecia areata is one of the earliest known dermatologic entities, having been described in the Papyrus Ebers, which dates back to 1500-2500 B.C.1The special ophiasitic form was recognized by Celsus,2and is so named because of the symmetric bands of alopecia above the ears on the lateral aspects of the scalp, resembling a serpent. It usually begins near the midline of the occiput as an oval plaque of alopecia having the larger axis vertically. Later, secondary plaques form behind the ears and enlarge anterially above and in front of the ears and posterially to fuse with the original plaque.2The spread of the alopecia is confined to a horizontal, symmetric band which rarely exceeds more than 1 to 3 in. (2.5 to 8