Topical immunotherapy of severe alopecia areata with diphenylcyclopropenone: evaluation of 68 cases.

BACKGROUND

Currently, topical immunotherapy with diphenylcyclopropenone (DCP) represents the most accepted therapeutic modality in the treatment of severe alopecia areata (AA).

OBJECTIVE

Efficacy, side effects and prognostic factors of DCP treatment in severe AA.

METHODS

Retrospective study of 68 patients with severe AA (> 40% scalp hair loss), treated for at least 5 months at the Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Zürich, between May 1989 and December 1996.

RESULTS

The overall response rate was 70.6%, complete remission was obtained in 30.9% and partial remission in 39.7%. Among the investigated prognostic factors for the outcome of DCP therapy, only the extent of AA at the time of initiation of treatment was found to be of significance.

CONCLUSION

DCP treatment of severe AA is an effective, albeit symptomatic therapy with frequent side effects and a relatively high relapse rate. The response rate depends on the type of AA.