Korean J Dermatol.  2007 Sep;45(9):884-889.

14 Cases with Acute Diffuse Alopecia Areata

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Dajeon, Korea. parkjk@cnu.ac.kr

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Acute diffuse alopecia areata (AA) was described as a unique AA which mimics anagen effluvium, or in which the initial hair loss is diffuse and followed by total denudation of scalp within several weeks or months. In spite of its peculiar clinical feature, there was neither further characterization nor known effective treatment for this form of AA.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the characteristic clinical findings of acute diffuse AA and confirm the effect of high dose methyl prednisolone therapy.
METHODS
The medical records of 13 patients with acute diffuse AA between January 2002 and April 2006 at the Department of Dermatology, Chungnam National University Hospital were reviewed. All patients were treated with high dose methylprednisolone therapy.
RESULTS
Of the 13 patients who completed the study, 8 patients (61.5%) were male and 5 patients (38.5%) were female. The mean age was 29.6 years old. The progress of hair loss stopped 2.4 weeks on average after initial treatment and newly emerging hairs were recognized 4.1 weeks on average after initial treatment. 84.6% (11/13) of patients showed terminal hair growth, and 46.2% (6/13) of patients completely responded to this therapy.
CONCLUSION
Acute diffuse alopecia areata can occur in male as well as in female patients. High dose methylprednisolone therapy appears to be effective in patients with rapidly progressing acute diffuse alopecia areata to prevent the progression of the disease.

Keyword

Acute diffuse alopecia areata; High dose methylprednisolone therapy

MeSH Terms

Alopecia Areata*
Alopecia*
Chungcheongnam-do
Dermatology
Female
Hair
Humans
Male
Medical Records
Methylprednisolone
Prednisolone
Scalp
Methylprednisolone
Prednisolone
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