سولفاسالازین خوراکی در درمان بیماران آلوپسی آره‌آتای مقاوم به درمان

Background and Aim: Alopecia Areata is a chronic inflammatory disease which involves hair follicles. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of oral sulfasalazine in the treatment of recalcitrant alopecia areata.Methods: Patients with refractory alopecia areata who were eligible for the study, after providing informed consent were treated with oral sulfasalazine for 6 months. After completion of treatment, regrowth of vellus and terminal hairs were determined based on clinical examination and comparing the new photographs with the baseline ones.Results: Sixteen patients were enrolled in the present study but only 5 patients completed it. No response was seen in 3 patients. After 4 months, 55-60% response to treatment was observed in 1 patient, but the disease relapsed at the end of fourth month. In 1 patient, 15% hair regrowth was observed but treatment was discontinued after the second month due to side effects. Side effects were observed in 2 patients.Conclusion: Since only refractory alopecia areata patients had been enrolled to the study, the results could not be generalized to all patients with alopecia areata. Therapeutic response in the patients with alopecia areata is disappointing and any poor treatment response or failure of treatment in refractory cases of the disease cannot rule out the efficacy of the drug in the milder forms of the alopecia areata.