Methotrexate for the treatment of pediatric alopecia areata
Purpose: Alopecia areata is a form of nonscarring hair loss that occurs in pediatric and adult patients, with presentation varying from round or ovoid patches of alopecia to alopecia totalis or universalis. While frustrating for patients, it can also be frustrating for clinicians to treat, as there...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2018-02-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Dermatological Treatment |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09546634.2017.1341608 |
| _version_ | 1797683769157615616 |
|---|---|
| author | Erin T. Landis Rita O. Pichardo-Geisinger |
| author_facet | Erin T. Landis Rita O. Pichardo-Geisinger |
| author_sort | Erin T. Landis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: Alopecia areata is a form of nonscarring hair loss that occurs in pediatric and adult patients, with presentation varying from round or ovoid patches of alopecia to alopecia totalis or universalis. While frustrating for patients, it can also be frustrating for clinicians to treat, as there is no definitive treatment. Dermatologists are very familiar with the use of methotrexate for psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases, and this medication is generally well tolerated in children. Materials/Methods: This study presents a case series reviewing the efficacy of methotrexate in our pediatric patients with alopecia areata, making use of a retrospective chart review design from 2011 to 2016. Results: In this data set, 8/14 subjects (57%) experienced good regrowth with methotrexate, while 3/14 (21%) had a response that could not be assessed due to loss to follow-up or premature discontinuation of the medication. No cases discontinued the medication due to recognized methotrexate side effects. Conclusions: This review suggests methotrexate is a generally safe and often effective medication in pediatric alopecia areata. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T00:19:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d484008f27c54ee0aadcebeef1b8e4c7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0954-6634 1471-1753 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T00:19:39Z |
| publishDate | 2018-02-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Dermatological Treatment |
| spelling | doaj.art-d484008f27c54ee0aadcebeef1b8e4c72023-09-15T14:08:30ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Dermatological Treatment0954-66341471-17532018-02-0129214514810.1080/09546634.2017.13416081341608Methotrexate for the treatment of pediatric alopecia areataErin T. Landis0Rita O. Pichardo-Geisinger1Wake Forest School of MedicineWake Forest School of MedicinePurpose: Alopecia areata is a form of nonscarring hair loss that occurs in pediatric and adult patients, with presentation varying from round or ovoid patches of alopecia to alopecia totalis or universalis. While frustrating for patients, it can also be frustrating for clinicians to treat, as there is no definitive treatment. Dermatologists are very familiar with the use of methotrexate for psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases, and this medication is generally well tolerated in children. Materials/Methods: This study presents a case series reviewing the efficacy of methotrexate in our pediatric patients with alopecia areata, making use of a retrospective chart review design from 2011 to 2016. Results: In this data set, 8/14 subjects (57%) experienced good regrowth with methotrexate, while 3/14 (21%) had a response that could not be assessed due to loss to follow-up or premature discontinuation of the medication. No cases discontinued the medication due to recognized methotrexate side effects. Conclusions: This review suggests methotrexate is a generally safe and often effective medication in pediatric alopecia areata.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09546634.2017.1341608alopecia areatamethotrexatepediatric dermatologyhair loss |
| spellingShingle | Erin T. Landis Rita O. Pichardo-Geisinger Methotrexate for the treatment of pediatric alopecia areata Journal of Dermatological Treatment alopecia areata methotrexate pediatric dermatology hair loss |
| title | Methotrexate for the treatment of pediatric alopecia areata |
| title_full | Methotrexate for the treatment of pediatric alopecia areata |
| title_fullStr | Methotrexate for the treatment of pediatric alopecia areata |
| title_full_unstemmed | Methotrexate for the treatment of pediatric alopecia areata |
| title_short | Methotrexate for the treatment of pediatric alopecia areata |
| title_sort | methotrexate for the treatment of pediatric alopecia areata |
| topic | alopecia areata methotrexate pediatric dermatology hair loss |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09546634.2017.1341608 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT erintlandis methotrexateforthetreatmentofpediatricalopeciaareata AT ritaopichardogeisinger methotrexateforthetreatmentofpediatricalopeciaareata |