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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

A New Technique for Quantitative Analysis of Hair Loss in Mice Using Grayscale Analysis
Published on: March 9, 2015
High-dose pulse corticosteroid therapy in the treatment of severe alopecia areata
1Department of Dermatology, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
Objective:
The present monocenter prospective study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous high-dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy in patients with severe alopecia areata (AA).
Methods:
30 patients (aged 14-56 years) were treated with methylprednisolone (8 mg/kg body weight) intravenously on 3 consecutive days at 4-week intervals for at least 3 courses.
Results:
67% of patients with AA plurifocalis showed >50% regrowth of hair. None of the patients with AA totalis or universalis and only 1 patient with ophiasic AA responded to therapy. In patients with AA plurifocalis, higher response rates could be observed in those suffering from long-term disease compared to patients treated during their first episodes of AA (73 vs. 57%).
Conclusion:
High-dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for patients with severe AA plurifocalis but might be less beneficial for patients with ophasic AA, AA totalis or universalis.
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