Subcutaneous efalizumab is not effective in the treatment of alopecia areata.
Journal Article (Journal Article;Multicenter Study)
BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease. Efalizumab is a T-cell-targeted therapy approved for the treatment of psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of efalizumab in the treatment of moderate-to-severe AA. METHODS: Sixty-two patients were enrolled into this phase II, placebo-controlled trial. The trial consisted of three 12-week periods-a double-blind treatment period, an open-label efalizumab treatment period, and a safety follow-up. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences between treatment groups in percent hair regrowth, quality-of-life measures, or changes in biologic markers of disease severity after 12 or 24 weeks. In both groups, there was an approximately 8% response rate for hair regrowth (at 12 weeks). Efalizumab was well tolerated. LIMITATIONS: Numbers were too small for certain analyses. CONCLUSION: A 3- to 6-month trial of efalizumab was not effective in promoting hair regrowth in this small cohort of patients with moderate-to-severe AA.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Price, VH; Hordinsky, MK; Olsen, EA; Roberts, JL; Siegfried, EC; Rafal, ES; Korman, NJ; Altrabulsi, B; Leung, HM; Garovoy, MR; Caro, I; Whiting, DA
Published Date
- March 2008
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 58 / 3
Start / End Page
- 395 - 402
PubMed ID
- 18280336
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1097-6787
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1016/j.jaad.2007.10.645
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States