P#19   Analysis of the prognostic factor for treatment alopecia areata

Park Min Su, Shur Ki-Beom, Lee Jeung Hoon and Park Jang-Kyu. Dept of Dermatology, Chungnam National University - School of Medicine, Taejon, Korea

To investigate the prognostic factor, we performed clinical study of 189 patients (95 male, 94 female) with alopecia areata who had visited the Dept of dermatology, Chungnam National university hospital between 1998 and 2001. According to the involved area of alopecia we divided them in groups: 1) <25%: 115 (61%), 2) 25-50%: 23 (12%), 3) 51-75%: 15 (8%), 4) 76-99%: 6 (3%) and 5) AT and AU: 30 (16%). Treatment outcome was divided into 2 groups: 1) group A: good response (cosmetic no problem): 144 patients (76%), 2) group B: partial or no response: 45 patients (24%). Duration of the disease before treatment in group A ranged from 0.1 to 48 months (mean: 3.4 months) and all but except only 2 patients were less than 12 months. In group B it ranged from 0.5 to 192 months (mean: 39 months) and 30 of 45 patients (67%) were more than 12 months. Statistic analysis was performed by logistic regression tests. Some factors appear to be significant as prognostic outcomes. The most significant factor is duration of the disease before treatment; 142 /157 patients (90%) that we started treatment before 12 months showed good response, but only 2/32 patients (6%) that after 12 months showed good response. And extension of involved area, personal history of atopic dermatitis, family history of alopecia areata, presence of nail change and ophiasis appear to be unfavorable prognostic outcome but these were less significant.