Review article

TREATMENT OF ALOPECIA AREATA: MODERN PRINCIPLES AND PERSPECTIVES

INES BRAJAC
MARIJA KAŠTELAN
DARINKA PERIŠA,
EDITA SIMONIĆ
LILIJANA STOJNIĆ-SOŠA,
LARISA PRPIĆ MASSARI

Abstract

Alopecia areata (AA) is a frequent disease with nonscarring hair loss on the scalp and/or body. Hair follicle in alopecia areata is not irreversibly destroyed, so potential for hair regrowth remains. Considering unknown etiopathogenesis, treatment of AA is symptomatic and directed toward halting disease activity. Lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrate around
hair follicle, increased levels of autoantibodies, cytokine abnormalities and increased prevalence of autoimmune comorbidities, support the hypothesis of AA as an organ-specific autoimmune disorder. Therefore, investigations are directed toward new immunomodulatory or immunosupresive drugs with induction effect on hair growth. New biologic drugs and their influence on hair growth as well as genetic therapy for alopecia areata are currently under investigation. Contemporary principles in therapy of alopecia areata and treatments available will be discussed in this article.

Keywords

Alopecia areata – drug therapy, immunology, pathology; Adrenal cortex hormones – therapeutic use; Immunotherapy – methods; Photochemotherapy

Hrčak ID:

221466

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/221466

Publication date:

31.12.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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