Comparison of effectiveness of topical tacrolimus
and betamethasone with soft paraffin in the
treatment of patchy alopecia areata

Azra Saleem¹, Moosa Khan², Ghulam Rasool Mashori³,
Azam SamdanI⁴, S. Asif Jahanzeb Kazmi⁵

ABSTRACT

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of Topical Tacrolimus and Betamethasone with soft paraffin in the treatment of patchy alopecia areata.

Methodology: Sixty patients with mild to moderate patchy alopecia areata were evaluated in a non-randomized, open label, intention to treat clinical trial. Patients were assigned to Tacrolimus (n=20) or to Betamethasone (n=20) or to soft paraffin (n=20). All the three groups were advised to apply the treatment on the affected areas twice a day for 12 consecutive weeks. The primary study outcome was to compare the hair regrowth rate. Efficacy was evaluated at weeks 4, 8 and 12, using hair regrowth score (RGS) with a scale ranging from 0 (regrowth<10%) to 4 (regrowth>75%).

Results: Fifty six subjects (93%) completed the study. At week 12, the RGS was 3.5±0.11in Betamethasone group (p<0.001), 2.2±0.15 in Tacrolimus group (p<0.005) and 0.85±0.08 (ns) in control group respectively. RGS>3 was observed in 70% of patients in Betamethasone group as compared to 45% in Tacrolimus group and none of the patients in control group.

Conclusion: Betamethasone is more effective than Tacrolimus in promoting hair regrowth as compared with soft paraffin in patients with mild to moderate patchy alopecia areata.

KEY WORDS: Alopecia areata, Tacrolimus, Betamethasone.

Pak J Med Sci    October - December 2009 (Part-I)    Vol. 25 No. 5    833-836

How to cite this article:

Saleem A, Khan M, Mashori GR, SamdanI A, Kazmi SAJ. Comparison of effectiveness of topical tacrolimus and betamethasone with soft paraffin in the treatment of patchy alopecia areata. Pak J Med Sci 2009;25(5):833-836.

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1. Dr. Azra Saleem, MBBS, M.Phil Student
2. Dr. Moosa Khan MBBS, M.Phil, Assistant Prof.
3. Dr. Ghulam Rasool Mashori, PhD
4. Prof. Dr. Azam Samdani, PhD (Dermatology),
Head of Dept. of Dermatology, JPMC, Karachi.
5. Dr. S. Asif Jahanzeb Kazmi, MBBS (M.Phil)
1-3&5: Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics,
BMSI, JPMC, Karachi – Pakistan.

Correspondance:

Dr. Azra Saleem,
B-401, Decent View, Block-13,
Gulistan-e-Jauher, Karachi – Pakistan.
E mail: drazra@rediffmail.com

* Received for Publication: June 30, 2009
* Revision Received: July 18, 2009
* Accepted for Publication: August 21, 2009

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