Topical therapy of alopecia areata with squaric acid dibutylester.

Abstract

The efficacy of the topical allergen squaric acid dibutylester (SADBE) was investigated in the treatment of twenty-six patients with alopecia areata or alopecia totalis. The patients had their disease for a mean duration of 8.3 years (range, 3 months to 27 years). Sensitization was attempted with 2% SADBE in acetone. Five individuals could not be sensitized. The twenty-one sensitized patients were treated with topical applications of 0.001% to 1.0% SADBE in acetone adjusted to produce and maintain dermatitis for an average of 21 weeks. Eleven (52%) had excellent responses consisting of complete regrowth in six and cosmetically acceptable regrowth in five. The average treatment time for regrowth was 11 weeks (range, 5-20 weeks). Ten (48%) had no clinical response after an average of 19 weeks of therapy (range, 4-42 weeks). Topical SADBE is an effective therapy for some patients with long-standing alopecia areata.

• Authors: P C Case, A J Mitchell, N A Swanson, E E Vanderveen, C N Ellis, J T Headington
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (J Am Acad Dermatol) Vol. 10 Issue 3 Pg. 447-50 (Mar 1984) ISSN: 0190-9622 [Print] United States
• PMID: 6725657 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Allergens
• Cyclobutanes
• Dinitrochlorobenzene
• squaric acid dibutyl ester

Topics

• Administration, Topical
• Adult
• Allergens (therapeutic use)
• Alopecia Areata (drug therapy, immunology, therapy)
• Cyclobutanes (therapeutic use)
• Dinitrochlorobenzene (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunotherapy
• Male