Table 3.
Summary of studies using pulsed corticosteroid in alopecia areata
| Authors | Number of patients | Dose | Response | Side effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senila et al.[12] | 32 | 500 mg infusion of methylprednisolone on 3 days every month for 3 months | 26 (81.3%) | Facial flushing (17), headache and dizziness (9), asthenia (5), and palpitations (6) |
| Nakajima et al.[13] | 139 | Single cycle of 3 days methylprednisolone 500 mg infusion | 59.4% in disease duration <6 months, 15.8% in disease duration >6 months | No serious side effects |
| Friedli et al.[14] | 45 | Single cycle of 3 days methylprednisolone 500 mg infusion | 13 (65%) | No serious side effects |
| Seiter et al.[15] | 30 | 500 mg infusion of methylprednisolone on 3 days every month for 3 months | 12 (40%) | No serious side effects |
| Staumont-Sallé et al.[16] | 30 | 500 mg infusion of methylprednisolone on 3 days every month for 3 months | 10 (33.3%) | Tiredness (11), headache and flush (9), nausea and vomiting (7), and transient hyperglycemia (6) |
| Sharma and Gupta[17] | 30 | 5 mg dexamethasone two consecutive days every week | 16 (63.3%) | Minor side effects (8) |
| Lalosevic et al.[18] | 65 | Oral dexamethasone solution (equivalent to 5 mg/kg of prednisolone), in a single dose every 4 weeks for 6, 9, or 12 months with topical clobetasol propionate 0.05% ointment under occlusion | 37 (56.9%) | No serious side effects |
| Yeo et al.[19] | 82 | Methylprednisolone, 1 g/day, twice a day for 3 consecutive days for adults and 10 mg/kg/day weekly for 3 weeks for children for 6 months | 53 (64.6%) | GI discomfort, headache, dizziness, facial flushing, and palpitation in 16 (19.5%) patients |
| Yoshimasu et al.[20] | 55 | 500 mg/day of methylprednisolone infusion for 3 days for 6 months | Group 1 (<25%, 25%-49% hair loss): 100% growth Group 2 (50%-74%, 75%-99% hair loss):83% and 82% growth |
Myalgia and numbness (10), limbs edema (4), stomach discomfort (2), infection (2), arthralgia (1), burning sensation (1) |
| Khaitan et al.[11] | 16 | Betamethasone mini-pulse therapy for 6 months | 12 (75%) | Cushingoid facies and weight gain (2), acneiform eruption (2), mild gastric discomfort (3) |
| Jang et al.[21] | 37 | Betamethasone mini-pulse therapy for 3 months | 14 (37.8%) | Weight gain (11), facial edema (9), acneiform eruption (6), GI symptoms (4), headache/dizziness (4), skin atrophy (2) |
GI: Gastrointestinal