Safety and Efficacy of Adalimumab for the Treatment of Severe Alopecia Areata: Case Series of Three Patients

Abstract

Background: Current therapeutic options for extensive alopecia areata (AA) often lead to disappointing results. Objective: To study the efficacy and safety of adalimumab in patients with severe AA. Methods: This was a prospective, open-label, single-center, pilot study. Three subjects of the planned 10 were enrolled and received two weekly subcutaneous (SC) loading doses of adalimumab 80 mg followed by 40 mg SC every week for 6 months. Patients were evaluated for efficacy and safety on a monthly basis. Results: Enrolment in this trial was stopped following publication of studies showing no improvement in patients with AA treated with tumor necrosis factor α antagonists. One patient had a favorable response to adalimumab, whereas the two other patients had no benefit from the therapy. Adalimumab was well tolerated by patients with AA. Conclusion: Adalimumab was well tolerated in patients with AA but did not induce clinically significant hair regrowth.