EFFICACY OF COMPOUND BETAMETHASONE COMBINED WITH COMPOUND GLYCYRRHIZIN IN THE TREATMENT OF SEVERE ACTIVE ALOPECIA AREATA

Youyu Sheng, Jun Zhao, Jingwen Ma, Sisi Qi, Ruiming Hu, Qinping Yang#

Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of combination therapy with compound betamethasone and compound glycyrrhizin in the treatment of severe active alopecia areata.

Methods: A monocentric controlled study with 100 patients was conducted in Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Patients with severe active alopecia areata (severity of alopecia tool score >50, and ongoing hair loss proved by positive hair-pulling test) were randomized into two groups. Compound betamethasone was intramuscular injected every three weeks for four times in each group, and combined with oral compound glycyrrhizin tablets for 24 weeks in the concurrent treatment group. Efficacy was assessed by measuring the response rate during treatment, as well as the relapse rate off treatment.

Results: The efficacy rate at 24-weeks of the combination therapy group (72.00%) was significantly higher than that of monotherapy group (46.00%) (P=0.008). The efficacy rate at 36-weeks of the combination therapy group (50.00%) was significantly higher than the monotherapy group (28.00%) (P=0.024). The relapse rate at 36-weeks of the combination therapy group (36.11%) was significantly lower than that of the monotherapy group (65.22%) (P=0.029). No severe adverse event was noted.

Conclusions: The combination treatment of compound betamethasone injection with compound glycyrrhizin tablet showed better efficacy and durability of responses than single betamethasone treatment in severe active alopecia areata.