El-Refaei, Muhammad E. , Marei, Naeima A. , Hantar, Nahla S.
Authors
Husni, Tamer Muhammad Aly Ebrahim
Accessioned
2017-03-30 06:21:39
Available
2017-03-30 06:21:39
type
M.D. Thesis
Abstract
Topical diphencyprone and topical 0.1% tacrolimus have been used in the treatment of alopecia areata with variable results. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of two topically applied immunomodulative agents through the detection of macrophage and lymphocye subsets using monoclonal antibodies against CD4, CD8 and major histocompatibility complex class II antigens. A total of 50 patients with alopecia areata with different degrees of the illness we included in this study. The patients were classified into two groups, each group included a number of 25 patients and treated with one of the immunodulative drugs on one side of the scalp. The other area was left as control. Biopsies from all patients were taken at the beginning of therapy and at the end of the study from both groups as well as from the control site. Tissue specimens were prepared for histologic and immunophenotypic analysis. A clinical response of 68% was achieved in group A treated with DPCP while group B patients treated with 0.1% tacrolimus showed insignificant clinical response together with decreased expression of CD4 and increased in the expression of CD8 and HLA class II antigens in the post-treated areas compared with pre-treated areas in diphencyprone treated cases. Thus we conclude that the diphencyprone is a successful treatment modality in the treatment of alopecia areata while topical 0.1% tacrolimus is unsuccessful treatment for the patients of alopecia areata.