Comparative Evaluation of Intralesional Triamcinolone Acetonide Injection, Narrow Band Ultraviolet B, and their Combination in Alopecia Areata.

CONTEXT: Alopecia areata (AA), an autoimmune disorder, can affect any hair-bearing area. No treatment so far has produced a consistent response. Narrow band ultraviolet B (NBUVB) has not been studied in its management.

AIMS: Comparative evaluation of intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injection, NBUVB, and their combination in AA.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Forty patients (28 males and 12 females) with at least three patches of hair loss were enrolled after obtaining written informed consent. Patches were subdivided as follows: Patch 1 was injected with triamcinolone acetonide 2.5 mg/ml (total of three injections) at 3 weeks interval. Patch 2 - NBUVB was given twice a week for a total of 12 weeks. Patch 3 - combination of injection and NBUVB. Therapeutic response was recorded as regrowth of terminal hair (G0 to G4).

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Chi-square test. P < 5% was considered significant.

RESULTS

At the end of treatment and follow-up, that is, at week 12, more than 50% of hair regrowth was evident in 27 (67.5%) patients with intralesional steroid; 7 (17.5%) with NBUVB; and 25 (62.5%) patients with their combination. This difference in the clinical response was statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Intralesional steroid is more effective than NBUVB and their combination is not synergistic in terms of the clinical response in AA.