Intralesional Methotrexate for Treatment of Alopecia Areata: Clinical Evaluation and Effect on Lesional TNF Alpha
Rodaina Mohamed Farag, Samar Abdallah Salem, Ahmed Abdelfattah Afify, Walid Abd Elhady Ahmed- General Medicine
Abstract
Background
Alopecia areata (AA) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease characterized by T-cell infiltrates and cytokine production including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Methotrexate causes T cell apoptosis and adenosine release that involves inhibition of TNF-α that could be the mechanism of action in AA.
Aim of the Work
To assess the efficacy of intralesional methotrexate in the treatment of alopecia areata and study its effect on TNF alpha tissue levels compared to before.
Patients and Methods
30 patients were injected by intralesional methotrexate every two weeks for 3 months and a scalp biopsy was taken before and after treatment to measure lesional TNF-α.
Results
There was significant hair regrowth after methotrexate treatment with significant decrease in lesional TNF-α.
Conclusion
Intralesional methotrexate is an effective treatment for alopecia areata with mechanism of action involving decrease of TNF-α.