AbstractBackground: Alopecia Areata (AA) is an autoimmune condition that attacks the hair follicles, causing non scarring hair loss. The present study compared cyclosporine and betamethasone minipulse therapy as treatments for AA.
Materials & Methods: 56 cases of Alopecia Areata were divided into 2 groups of 28 each. Group I patients were prescribed oral cyclosporine and group II were given betamethasone minipulse therapy. Patients’ self-assessments were graded on a 4-point scale as excellent, good, fair, or poor.
Results: Alopecia areata was seen in 12 in group I and 8 in group II, Alopecia totalis 10 in group I and 12 in group II and Alopecia universalis 6 in group I and 8 in group II. Nail changes were seen in 12 in group I and 7 in group II, family history was present in 5 in group I and 6 in group II and extent of hair loss was mild in 15 and 12 in group I and II respectively, severe in 13 and 16 in group I and II respectively. 8 cases in group I and 4 in group II had excellent response, 12 in group I and 6 in group II had good, 5 in group I and 12 in group III had fair and 3 in group I and 6 in group II had poor response.
Conclusion: Oral cyclosporine found to be better than betamethasone minipulse therapy in treatment of cases of AA.
