Five-year experience in the treatment of alopecia areata with DPC

Background The effectiveness of Diphencyprone (DPC) in alopecia areata (AA) was demonstrated in several studies with highly variable response rates ranging from 5% to 85%. Objective The response rate and variable factors affecting the prognosis were studied focusing on long-term follow-up with or without maintenance therapy. Methods A total of 135 cases of AA were treated with DPC. Patients were divided into five groups according to the area of scalp affected: Grade 1 AA: 25-49% scalp affection; Grade 2 AA: 50-74% scalp affection; Grade 3 AA: 75-99% scalp affection; alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis. An initial response was defined as appearance of new terminal hair within treated sites. Excellent response was defined as terminal hair covering > 75% of the scalp. Relapse meant > 25% hair loss. Maintenance therapy meant ongoing therapy once every 1-4 weeks after excellent response. Follow-up was performed to detect any relapse of AA. Results Ninety-seven patients continued therapy for >= 3 months. After an initial 3 month lag, cumulative excellent response was seen in 15 patients (15.4%), 47 patients (48.5%), 51 patients (52.6%) and 55 patients (55.7%) after 6, 12, 18 and 24 months respectively in a mean median time of 12 months. The only patient variable affecting the prognosis was baseline extent of AA. Excellent response was seen in 100%, 77%, 54%, 50% and 41% in Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, AA totalis and AA universalis patients respectively. Side-effects were few and tolerable. Hair fall > 25% occurred in 17.9% of patients on maintenance and 57.1% of patients without maintenance therapy (P-value = 0.025). Conclusion Diphencyprone is an effective and safe treatment of extensive AA. A long period of therapy is needed and will increase the percentage of responders especially in alopecia totalis and universalis. Maintenance therapy is recommended to reduce the risk of relapse.