110 Treatment of Alopecia areata with Mycophenolatmofetil

D. Sobczak, H. Rheinen. Dep. of Dermatology, University of Freiburg, Germany.

After androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata is the most common kind of hair loss. Characteristically there arise some circular sites on the capillitium, mostly without any clinical signs of inflammation, cicatrization or atrophy. The hair loss can increase until total baldness of the scalp, eyelids and body. Because of their psychoscial stigmatization, the medical attendance and therapy of patients who suffer from distinct forms of alopecia areata is difficult to challange. The aim of this study was to determine the effect, efficiency, tolerance, side effects and toxicity of Mycophenolatmofetil on patients who suffer from alopecia areata. It was a monocentral, open, not controlled and prospective study. We treated 20 patients with distinct forms of alopecia areata (hair loss of more than 70% of the capillitium, alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis) with Mycophenolatmofetil (Cell Cept®) over a space of 6 months. The daily oral dosage of Mycophenolatmofetil was 2g, split in two rations, in combination with 10mg Prednisolon (Decortin H®) per day. Before this study, the patients had unsuccessfully been treated with local steroids and DCP. Patients with a acute gastrointestinal ulceration, leucocytes < 2500/µl, platelets < 50000/µl, malignancies, infections, pregnant or nursing women could not be included. The results of the study was that 3 of the 20 patients (15%) dropped out because of side effects, in 5 of the 20 (25%) cases there was no improvement of the alopecie, 5 patients (25%) got partial improvement of hair growth and in 7 of the 20 patients (35%) the hair growth improved considerably under this medical treatment. We conclude that because of the proven good tolerance of Mycophenolatmofetil and the selective effects of the substance it could be a valuable alternative in treatment of distinct forms of alopecia areata.