Efficacy and tolerability of diphenylcyclopropenone in the treatment of alopecia areata

Though many therapies exist for alopecia areata, one of the most unique is topical sensitization. Sensitizers as DPCP offer an attractive treatment option for many patients with alopecia areata, including those who have previously failed more traditional treatments and those who have extensive disease. The present study was done to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of DPCP in the treatment of AA. Twenty five patients with AA were included in this study and divided into two groups: Group I, consists of 20 patients divided into 2 subgroups [subgroup Ia, 10 AA patients of less than 50% scalp hair loss and subgroup Ib, 10 AA patients of more than 50% scalp hair loss]. Group II included five patients with AT. After sensitization with 2% DPCP, progressively higher concentrations, beginning at 0.001%, were applied weekly for 6 months. Collectively, 23 out of the twenty-five patients [92%] showed variable grades of hair regrowth; 17 patients [68%] showed complete hair regrowth, 4 patients [16%] showed patchy terminal hair regrowth, 2 patients [8%] showed sparse pigmented hair and 2 patients [8%] showed no response at all. Reported adverse reactions were occasional episodes of contact dermatitis, cervical lymphadenopathy, generalized pruritus and pigmentary changes. Topical sensitization with DPCP offers a unique therapeutic alternative to traditional treatments for AA. It also offers many advantages over other treatments in extensive AA

Effects of topical corticosteroids on adrenal function in childeren with atopic dermatitis

The aim of this study was to investigate the response to low-dose [500 ng/1.73 m2] adrenocorticoid hormone [ACTH] test in atopic dermatitis [AD] patients in comparison with the normal controls. Twenty-five prepubertal children were compared with 8 healthy control subjects [mean age 7.56 +/- 2.5 years, respectively; male to female ratio 1.1:1 and 1:1, respectively]. All patients were subjected to thorough medical history and clinical examination as well as random blood glucose, total and differential blood count and plasma cortisol [mug/dl] was measured by radioimmunoassay. The basal [0], peak [30], 60-minute and increment [peak minus basal] in plasma cortisol concentrations in children with mild AD used mild potent corticosteroid were not significantly different from the controls indicating a normal adrenal sensitivity to low-dose adrenocorticoid hormone [ACTH]. In moderate AD patients, used moderately potent corticosteroid, the peak and increment in the plasma cortisol levels were lower than the controls but within the normal values. Severe AD patients, used potent corticosteroid, showed lower peak and subnormal increment; while the basal and 60-minute plasma cortisol levels were within the normal level. There was a significant positive correlation between the peak, the basal, increment and 60-minute corticosteroid levels; whereas, they were inversely correlated with the eosinophilic count in all patients. The increment did not correlate with the basal and stimulated levels of plasma cortisol in the group of severe AD