-
Dermatologic Therapy Jul 2020Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common type of baldness affecting both men and women. Studies investigating combination therapies for AGA reported greater... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common type of baldness affecting both men and women. Studies investigating combination therapies for AGA reported greater efficacy than monotherapy but without rigorous examination. The authors performed a meta-analysis and systemic review to further verify the evidence. To evaluate the effectiveness of three common combination therapies of minoxidil with finasteride, low-level laser light therapy (LLLT) or microneedling versus minoxidil monotherapy. We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of combination therapies consisting of topical minoxidil for AGA through April 2020. Quality assessment and data analysis were performed by Review Manager 5.3. Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria involving a total of 1172 AGA patients. We conducted meta-analysis for three groups of combined treatment separately, and all were superior to monotherapy in terms of global photographic assessment (P < .05). Combination of LLLT or microneedling with minoxidil also showed significant increase in hair count (P < .05) compared to monotherapy. The present study suggests that combination therapy could be an effective, safe and promising option for the treatment of AGA. However, more RCTs are needed to further investigate and confirm the efficacy of combined treatment.
Topics: Alopecia; Female; Finasteride; Hair; Humans; Male; Minoxidil; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 32478968
DOI: 10.1111/dth.13741 -
Journal of the American Academy of... Feb 2019Alopecia areata (AA) may be associated with various systemic diseases according to several studies. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Alopecia areata (AA) may be associated with various systemic diseases according to several studies.
OBJECTIVE
To identify prevalent and incident diseases in patients with AA and quantify their prevalence and odds and hazard ratios compared with those in controls without AA.
METHODS
A systematic review of the studies published before February 28, 2018, was performed by using the MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. Observational studies on prevalent or incident diseases in patients with AA were included, whereas studies limited to pediatrics or providing only laboratory results or continuous data were excluded. The inverse variance method with a random-effects model was used for meta-analyses.
RESULTS
A total of 87 studies were analyzed. Atopic diseases, metabolic syndrome, Helicobacter pylori infection, lupus erythematosus, iron deficiency anemia, thyroid diseases, psychiatric diseases, vitamin D deficiency, and audiologic and ophthalmic abnormalities were more prevalent in patients with AA. Patients with AA had a higher risk of developing autoimmune diseases.
LIMITATIONS
Some diseases were investigated by an insufficient number of studies to be meta-analyzed. Meta-analysis of incident diseases was not performed owing to the limited availability of cohort studies.
CONCLUSION
AA is associated with various systemic and psychiatric diseases. Physicians are encouraged to evaluate and manage potential comorbid conditions to achieve better outcomes.
Topics: Alopecia Areata; Cardiovascular Diseases; Comorbidity; Connective Tissue Diseases; Female; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Humans; Male; Neoplasms; Prevalence; Prognosis; Republic of Korea; Skin Neoplasms; Thyroid Diseases
PubMed: 30031145
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.07.013 -
International Journal of Trichology 2020Patients with major presentations of alopecia experience physically harmful effects and psychological comorbidities, such as depression and anxiety. Oral minoxidil (OM)... (Review)
Review
Patients with major presentations of alopecia experience physically harmful effects and psychological comorbidities, such as depression and anxiety. Oral minoxidil (OM) has been suggested by dermatologists as a potential remedy; however, its effectiveness remains unclear. This systematic review aims to collate published studies and to analyze the effect of OM among patients diagnosed with any type of alopecia. For this systematic review, Medline/PubMed, Cochrane Central, EMBASE, Web of Sciences, and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Information System were searched for relevant studies from inception to September 21, 2019. Of 1960 studies retrieved in several electronic databases and three additional records identified though reference list from potentially eligible studies, nine studies (one randomized controlled trial and eight nonrandomized controlled trials) met the requirements and were used in our analysis. Although we found positive effects in favor of OM, this should be interpreted cautiously due to very low quality of the evidence of outcomes in the selected studies. Definitive conclusions are not possible without high-quality trials. This review has highlighted the absence of high-quality randomized controlled trials evaluating OM in the treatment of various types of alopecia. Given the mild adverse events of OM, future studies should also analyze doses and duration to maximize efficacy and decrease side effects.
PubMed: 33376283
DOI: 10.4103/ijt.ijt_19_20 -
Biomolecules Mar 2023Dupilumab was first approved for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) and blocks the signaling of interleukin (IL)-4 and -13. Several other chronic skin conditions... (Review)
Review
Dupilumab was first approved for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) and blocks the signaling of interleukin (IL)-4 and -13. Several other chronic skin conditions share mechanistic overlaps with AD in their pathophysiology, i.e., are linked to type 2 inflammation. Most recently, dupilumab was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for prurigo nodularis (PN). Given its relatively good safety profile, effective off-label use of dupilumab has been reported for a multitude of dermatologic diseases and several clinical trials for dermatologic skin conditions are currently ongoing. We conducted a systematic review of applications of dupilumab in dermatology other than AD and PN by searching the databases PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library as well as the clinical trial registry ClinicalTrials.gov. We found several reports for effective treatment of bullous autoimmune diseases, eczema, prurigo, alopecia areata, chronic spontaneous urticaria, Netherton syndrome and a variety of other chronic inflammatory skin diseases.
Topics: Humans; Prurigo; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Dermatitis, Atopic; Skin
PubMed: 37189381
DOI: 10.3390/biom13040634 -
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology Sep 2023Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles with potential roles in modulating the hair growth cycle and are an emerging therapy for patients with alopecia. In recent... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles with potential roles in modulating the hair growth cycle and are an emerging therapy for patients with alopecia. In recent years, researchers have made significant progress in deciphering the network of cellular interactions and signaling pathways mediated by the transfer of exosomes. This has opened the door to a wide range of potential therapeutic applications with an increasing focus on its application in precision medicine.
AIM
To evaluate current published evidence, both preclinical and clinical, on the use of exosomes for hair restoration.
METHODS
In January 2023, a systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Records were identified, screened, and assessed for eligibility as per the PRISMA guideline.
RESULTS
We identified 16 studies (15 preclinical and 1 clinical) showing varying degrees of efficacy using exosomes derived from sources including adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and dermal papilla cells (DPCs). Applications of exosomes isolated from ADSCs (ADSC-Exo) and DPCs have shown early promising results in preclinical studies corroborated by results obtained from different model systems. Topical ADSC-Exo has been tried successfully in 39 androgenetic alopecia patients demonstrating significant increases in hair density and thickness. No significant adverse reactions associated with exosome treatment have been reported thus far.
CONCLUSIONS
Although current clinical evidence supporting the use of exosome treatment is limited, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting its therapeutic potential. Further studies are warranted to define its mechanism of action, optimize its delivery and efficacy, and to address important safety concerns.
Topics: Humans; Exosomes; Adipose Tissue; Hair; Adipocytes; Alopecia
PubMed: 37381168
DOI: 10.1111/jocd.15869 -
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment Feb 2022Various treatments exist for androgenetic alopecia (AGA); we determined the relative efficacies of non-surgical AGA monotherapies separately for men and women. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Various treatments exist for androgenetic alopecia (AGA); we determined the relative efficacies of non-surgical AGA monotherapies separately for men and women.
METHODS
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were systematically searched in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and clinicaltrials.gov. Separate networks were used for men and women; for each network, a Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) of mean change in hair count from baseline (in units of hairs per square centimeter) was performed using a random effects model.
RESULTS
The networks for male and female AGA included 30 and 10 RCTs, respectively. We identified the following treatments for male AGA in decreasing rank of efficacy: platelet-rich plasma (PRP), low-level laser therapy (LLLT), 0.5 mg dutasteride, 1 mg finasteride, 5% minoxidil, 2% minoxidil, and bimatoprost. For female AGA the following were identified in decreasing rank of efficacy: LLLT, 5% minoxidil, and 2% minoxidil. The evidence quality of the highest ranked therapies, for male and female AGA, was judged to be low.
CONCLUSIONS
While newer treatments like LLLT may be more efficacious than more traditional therapies like 5% minoxidil, the efficacy of the more recent treatment modalities needs to be further validated by future RCTs.
Topics: Alopecia; Female; Finasteride; Humans; Male; Minoxidil; Network Meta-Analysis; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 32250713
DOI: 10.1080/09546634.2020.1749547 -
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology Dec 2022Tofacitinib, a potent JAK inhibitor, has gained increasing interest, in recent years, among dermatologists for the management of refractory alopecia areata. Despite a... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Tofacitinib, a potent JAK inhibitor, has gained increasing interest, in recent years, among dermatologists for the management of refractory alopecia areata. Despite a growing number of studies on its safety and efficacy, there is still a lack of clarity, especially in the pediatric population, in treatment considerations such as proper dosage, treatment duration, side-effect profile, and therapeutic strategies to guide clinicians.
METHODS
Multiple databases were systematically searched. Following the PRISMA diagram, of a pool of 601 papers, seven met a checklist of inclusion criteria. These were observational studies including a total of 59 patients from four to 19 years of age.
RESULTS
In the evaluated studies, tofacitinib was administered either orally at a 2.5 to 15 mg daily (mostly 5 mg twice a day) dosage for 2 to 38 months or in the form of a 2% topical solution for 3-17 months. Metanalysis showed that 49% (95% CI: 29%-69%, I = 59.94%) of patients experienced a reversal of alopecia after a minimum of 3 to 9 months of therapy. Fifty-five percent (95% CI: 23%-86%, I = 75.07%) and 41% (95% CI: 23%-59%, I = 0.00%) showed Good/complete and partial response rates, respectively. Oral administration was significantly more efficacious than topical application (73% vs 23%, p-Value = 0.04). Few side effects such as diarrhea and mild liver transaminases abnormalities were noted in several patients.
CONCLUSION
Results of this review suggest that tofacitinib at 2.5-15 mg daily (especially 5 mg twice daily) oral formulation or 2% topical solution can be regarded as a viable alternative or adjunct to the conventional treatment options for moderate to severe forms of alopecia areata in children owing to its acceptable efficacy and side-effect profile. However, uncertainties continue to exist around treatment strategies including initial and maintenance dosages, route of administration, dose adjustments, the timing of tapering or discontinuation, and associated treatment modalities.
Topics: Humans; Child; Alopecia Areata; Pyrroles; Piperidines
PubMed: 36177815
DOI: 10.1111/jocd.15425 -
Journal of the American Academy of... Mar 2020Alopecia areata (AA) is a common autoimmune alopecia with heterogeneous severity and distribution. Previous studies found conflicting results about AA epidemiology. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Alopecia areata (AA) is a common autoimmune alopecia with heterogeneous severity and distribution. Previous studies found conflicting results about AA epidemiology.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence, incidence, and predictors of AA, alopecia totalis, alopecia ophiasis, and alopecia universalis.
METHODS
A systematic review of all published cohort and cross-sectional studies that analyzed AA and its subtypes. MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and GREAT were searched. At least 2 reviewers performed study title/abstract review and data extraction. Random-effects meta-analysis was used because of significant heterogeneity (I = 99.97%).
RESULTS
Ninety-four studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence (95% confidence interval, N) of AA overall was 2.11% (1.82-2.42, N = 302,157,365), with differences of population-based (0.75% [0.49-1.06%], N = 301,173,403) and clinic-based (3.47% [3.01-3.96], N = 983,962) studies. The prevalences of alopecia totalis, ophiasis, and universalis were 0.08% (0.04-0.13, N = 1,088,149), 0.02% (0.00-0.06, N = 1,075,203), and 0.03% (0.01-0.06, N = 1,085,444), respectively. AA prevalence (95% confidence interval) increased over time (<2000: 1.02% [0.85-1.22]; 2000-2009: 1.76% [1.51-2.03]; >2009: 3.22% [2.59-3.92]; P < .0001) and differed by region. AA prevalence was significantly lower in adults (1.47% [1.18-1.80]) than children (1.92% [1.31-2.65]; P < .0001).
CONCLUSIONS
AA affects 2% of the global population. AA prevalence is lower in adults than children, is increasing over time, and significantly differs by region.
Topics: Alopecia; Alopecia Areata; Humans; Incidence; Prevalence
PubMed: 31437543
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.08.032 -
Skin Appendage Disorders Nov 2020Androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss [. 2011 Jan;164(1):5-15]. Finasteride and minoxidil are the only approved treatments [. 2008 Oct;59(4):547-8... (Review)
Review
Androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss [. 2011 Jan;164(1):5-15]. Finasteride and minoxidil are the only approved treatments [. 2008 Oct;59(4):547-8 and . 2018 Jan;32(1):11-22]. Dutasteride is more potent than finasteride due to its ability to inhibit both 5-α-reductase type I and II [. 2017 Sep;9(1):75-9] though its adverse effects and long half-life contribute to the reluctance on its oral use. Mesotherapy could be a feasible alternative to avoid systemic exposure and side effects [. 2009 Feb;20(1):137-45]. We aim to perform a systematic review to analyze scientific literature with the purpose of comparing efficacy and adverse effects of both administration routes. Five clinical trials using oral route and 3 intralesional in comparison with placebo met criteria for inclusion. Regarding intralesional dutasteride, only one study [. 2001 Mar;19(2):149-54] reported the mean change in hair count. Although both interventions favor over placebo, there are not enough data to reliably compare outcomes obtained between both routes. Mean increase in hair count observed with oral dutasteride was higher (MD: 15.92 hairs [95% CI: 9.87-21.96]; = <0.00001; = 90%) compared to intralesional dutasteride in Abdallah's study (MD: 7.90 hairs [95% CI: 7.14-8.66]; = <0.00001). Future studies are required to assess the therapeutic efficacy of both treatment routes, including head-to-head treatments before well-supported conclusions can be established.
PubMed: 33313048
DOI: 10.1159/000510697 -
The Journal of Dermatology Jan 2022Trichoscopy represents a non-invasive diagnostic modality widely used in daily practice. Despite the common perception that this technique has been fairly established,... (Review)
Review
Trichoscopy represents a non-invasive diagnostic modality widely used in daily practice. Despite the common perception that this technique has been fairly established, some key issues remain to be addressed. Complexity and inconsistency in terminology in past literature are likely to confuse investigators when they are recording, reporting, and retrieving the findings. In addition, a diagnostic algorithm adopting sufficiently integrated and updated findings is not readily available. By adopting a systematic review approach, this review attempted to redefine major trichoscopic findings and integrate their synonyms individually into the most frequently used terms besides identifying and discussing terms which potentially cause confusion. The findings are categorized into five subgroups: hair shaft, follicular, perifollicular, scalp findings, and hair distribution pattern abnormalities. The calculation of sensitivities and positive predictive values of such redefined findings was conducted by reviewing the descriptions in the past literature on major hair diseases, including alopecia areata, androgenetic alopecia/female pattern hair loss, telogen effluvium, trichotillomania, lichen planopilaris, frontal fibrosing alopecia, central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, discoid lupus erythematosus, folliculitis decalvans, tinea capitis, and dissecting cellulitis, to confirm the diagnostically meaningful findings for representative diseases. This attempt redefined, for instance, yellow dots, short vellus hairs, exclamation mark hairs, black dots, and broken hairs as the findings of diagnostic significance for alopecia areata and hair diameter diversity, peripilar sign, and focal atrichia for androgenetic alopecia/female pattern hair loss. An updated diagnostic flowchart is proposed with the instructions to maximize its usefulness. Current limitations and future perspectives of trichoscopy as well as other emerging non-invasive diagnostic modalities for hair diseases are also discussed.
Topics: Alopecia; Alopecia Areata; Dermoscopy; Female; Hair; Hair Diseases; Humans; Software Design
PubMed: 34806223
DOI: 10.1111/1346-8138.16233