Abstract
Alopecia universalis often responds poorly to standard therapies. We report how a novel treatment option, alefacept, was successfully used in the management of a 21-year-old woman with alopecia universalis. The patient responded with complete regrowth of scalp and body hair after a single 12-week treatment course of alefacept. In addition, a review of the literature was performed pertaining to the use of biologic agents in the treatment of alopecia areata/universalis to determine which agents have a potential role in the treatment of this often refractory disease.
MeSH terms
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Adalimumab
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Adult
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Alefacept
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Alopecia / chemically induced
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Alopecia / drug therapy*
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Alopecia / immunology
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / adverse effects
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
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Etanercept
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Female
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Humans
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Immunoglobulin G / adverse effects
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Immunoglobulin G / therapeutic use
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Immunologic Factors / adverse effects
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Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
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Infliximab
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Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / therapeutic use
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / therapeutic use*
Substances
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Antibodies, Monoclonal
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
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Immunoglobulin G
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Immunologic Factors
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Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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Infliximab
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Alefacept
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Adalimumab
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Etanercept
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efalizumab