P35 EFFECT OF CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS ON PROLIFERATION AND DIFFERENTIATION OF KERATINOCYTES AND FIBROBLASTS OF HAIR FOLLICLES IN CULTURE AND SUBSTANTIATION OF THEIR USE TO TREAT ALOPECIA AREATA PATIENTS.

Mazitova L. P., Chirchenko M. A., Central Dermatology Institute, Center "Healthy Hair" of Russion Ministry of Health, Moscow.

Alopecia areata has remained an important problem in dermatology.  Etiology and pathogenesis of the disease remain unclear, while a steadily growing incidence of alopecia areata among virile population and the tendency toward increasing incidence of torpid forms of the disease suggest necessity to develop new, more effective methods of treatment.

A method has been developed to isolate epidermal keratinocytes and fibroblast cells from human hair follicles and to cultivate them.

The effect of some calcium channel blockers (verapamil and foridon in particular) on proliferation of keratinocytes and fibroblasts of the hair follicle has been established.

It has been shown that calcium channel blockers can produce a dose-dependent stimulating effect on cell proliferation in culture.

Toxic, stimulating, and inhibiting doses of the preparations have been determined.

Effect of local use of ointment on the structural and quantitative parameters of hair follicles have been studied.

The high therapeutic effect, which was demonstrated in alopecia areata patients treated with verapamil ointment (as a component of complex therapy), proves advantage of the proposed method over the traditionally used complex treatment. The results of studies suggest usefulness of producing verapamil ointment.