Subcutaneous efalizumab is not effective in the treatment of alopecia areata.
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.
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- Treatment Failure
- Quality of Life
- Pilot Projects
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Humans
- Hair
- Female
- Double-Blind Method
- Dermatology & Venereal Diseases
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Treatment Failure
- Quality of Life
- Pilot Projects
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Humans
- Hair
- Female
- Double-Blind Method
- Dermatology & Venereal Diseases