P7.77 CHILDREN WITH ALOPECIA AREATA – ANALYSIS OF THE CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION EXPERIENCE

Wilma F. Bergfeld, MD*; Nicole C. Dombrowski, BA**; Berna K. Remzi, MD*; Janie M. Leonhardt, BS***

*Department of Dermatology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA ** Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, OH , USA ***Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, OH, USA

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune form of non-scarring patchy hair loss that affects children and adults.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to analyze treatment options and efficacy in two groups of children with AA: those with and those without associated diseases such as atopy and thyroid dysfunction.

Methods: Charts of 41 patients who had an onset of AA before 16 years of age were reviewed.  Demographic, disease, and treatment-related data were collected.  Severity of AA was classified according to the Alopecia Areata Investigational Assessment Guidelines.

Results: Of the 41 patients, 24 (59%) were female and 17 (41%) were male with mean age of onset 8 + 4.2 years.  31 (76%) had a positive family history of AA.  19 (46%) had a baseline hair loss of  > 51% scalp hairs.  21 (51%) of patients had at least one associated disease, with associated disease being significantly more common in females.  The most commonly used treatments were topical anthralin and intralesional corticosteroids.  16 (39%) of all 41 patients had a cosmetically acceptable response to various treatment combinations.

Conclusions: Patients with an onset of AA > 8 years old were more responsive to treatment than those with an earlier onset of AA. Regarding AA treatment response, there were no significant differences between patients with or without associated diseases.