TOPICAL IMMUNOTHERAPY OF SEVERE ALOPECIA-AREATA WITH DIPHENYLCYCLOPROPENONE - EVALUATION OF 68 CASES

Background: Currently, topical immunotherapy with diphenylcyclopropeno ne (DCP) represents the most accepted therapeutic modality in the trea tment of severe alopecia areata (AA). Objective: Efficacy, side effect s and prognostic factors of DCP treatment in severe AA. Methods: Retro spective study of 68 patients with severe AA (>40% scalp hair loss), t reated for at least 5 months at the Department of Dermatology, Univers ity Hospital of Zurich, between May 1989 and December 1996. Results: T he overall response rate was 70.6%, complete remission was obtained in 30.9% and partial remission in 39.7%. Among the investigated prognost ic factors for the outcome of DCP therapy, only the extent of AA at th e time of initiation of treatment was found to be of significance. Con clusion: DCP treatment of severe AA is an effective, albeit symptomati c therapy with frequent side effects and a relatively high relapse rat e. The response rate depends on the type of AA.