Therapeutic Effect of Topical Anthralin for Treatment-Resistant Extensive Alopecia Areata / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Extensive alopecia areata (EAA) is resistant to multiple individual treatment modalities and has poor prognosis for cosmetically adequate regrowth. Anthralin is a widely used topical anti-psoriatic drug that may have an immunomodulating effect on AA as is does in psoriasis. But, there has only been small number of clinical trials of anthralin in the treatment of AA. OBJECTIVE: The purposes of the study were to evaluate the efficacy, prognostic factor, side effects and recurrence rate of topical anthralin therapy in treatment-resistant EAA. METHODS: A total of 16 cases of EAA (>50% scalp hair loss) who had failed in previous treatments were subjected in this study. Anthralin in 0.5% concentrations was applied to alopectic lesions for 1 hour daily over 4 weeks, gradually increasing anthralin concentration until low-grade erythema and pruritus develops. Treatment was withdrawn after complete response or if there were no signs of improvement at 6 months. Responders were followed up for 6 months after discontinuation of therapy. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 62.5%, complete response (>90% regrowth or cosmetically acceptable appearance) was obtained in 25% of cases and, good response (50~99% regrowth) in 39.5% of cases. In this study, among the investigated prognostic factors, there were no statistically significant factors (p<0.05, Fisher exact test). The most frequent side effects were therapeutically induced mild pruritus (93.8%), erythema (93.8%) and scale (56.3%). Other side-effects were transient folliculitis (31.3%) and regional lymph adenopathy (12.5%). Relapse was observed in 60% of responders after 6 month of follow up. CONCLUSION: Topical anthralin for treatment-resistant EAA is an effective therapy with tolerable side effects. Therefore, we propose the topical anthralin as a reasonable therapeutic option for treatment-resistant EAA.

Two Cases of Alopecia Areata Treated with Anthralin / 대한피부과학회지

Alopecia areata (AA) is a recurrent, nonscarring type of hair loss. Although it is a medically benign condition, AA can cause great emotional distress to affected patients and their family. At this time, there are many treatments that have varying efficacies but there is no reliable cure. Topical anthralin treatment of AA has been found to be effective by some researchers. We experienced two cases of AA improved by topical anthralin therapy without serious side effects. Anthralin is much less expensive than most other topical therapies for AA and relatively well tolerated. In our experience, it is more effective in eliciting a cosmetic response than other topical treatments. Anthralin appears to be a reasonable therapeutic option for AA.

Regulation of anthralin-induced cytokine expression in keratinocytes by leflunomide / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To determine whether leflunomide could control the proinflammatory cytokine expression induced by anthralin via inhibiting the activation of nuclear factor ?B (NF-?B). Methods The expression of NF-?B inhibitory protein ? (I?B?), was analyzed by using Western blot method. MTT assay and RT-PCR were used to assess the proliferating activity and mRNA expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) of HaCaT keratinocytes, respectively. Results Leflunomide inhibited the degradation of I?B? by anthralin, i.e. the activation of NF-?B signaling pathway, in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition of keratinocyte growth by anthralin did not correlate with the activation of NF-?B. Under the experimental conditions used, leflunomide was shown to be able to significantly inhibit the over-expression of ICAM-1 on keratinocytes induced by anthralin; this inhibition occurred in a dose dependent manner. Conclusions Growth inhibition by topical anti-psoriatic medication anhtralin is unrelated to the NF-?B-dependent signaling pathway, and leflunomide can control ICAM-1 expression induced by anthralin via inhibiting the activation of NF-?B.

Comparative Study of Low - Strength Anthralin Therapy in Psoriasis / 대한피부과학회지

We performed anthralin comparative study(0.01% vs 0.1%) to assess the effectiveness of low-strengh anthralin therapy in 34 psoriatic patients and the resu1ts can be summarized as follows. 1. In the case of 13 patients using Burdick UVB larnp, in 1 patient the effect of 0.1% anthralin was superior to that of 0.01% anthralin from the start to the end of treatment, in 5 patients(38.5%) initially the effect of 0.1% anthralin was superior but in time became equal to that of 0.01% anthralin, and in 7 patients (53.8%) the effect of either side was same throughout the courae of the treatment. In the case of 21 patients using Waldmann UVB cabinet, there were 2(9.5 %), 3(14.3%) and 16 patients(76.2%) in the order named above. 2. The side effect of 0.1% anthralin was more severe than or at least the same as that of 0.01% anthralin in every patient who complained about side effects. So low-strengh anthalin-UVB phototherapy was thought to be the effective and alternative method of treatment particularly for the purpose of lessening the side effects.

Anthralin Therapy for Psoriasis / 대한피부과학회지

Our Study was performed to evaluate the effect of anthralin for the treatment of psoriasis. Thirty seven patients with mild form of psoriasis were trested with topical anthralin ointment. 1. Twenty patients(54%) showed clearing of lesion within 8 weeks. 2. Treatment with anthalin was failed in 15 patients(40.5%). 3. Side reaction such as staining, pruritus and erythems was noted in 18 patients (48.6%), among them, 8 patients(21.6%) terminated the therapy with anthralin due to marked side reaction.