Cyclosporine Treatment for Alopecia Areata
Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant drug widely used in post-allergenic organ transplant to reduce the activity of the patient’s immune system and the risk of rejection. It was originally isolated from a Norwegian soil sample and contains a single D-amino acid rarely encountered in nature. Cyclosporine is usually used as a combination drug in the treatment of alopecia areata usually used with other drugs such as prednisolone which is a corticosteroid drug useful as an immunosuppressant.
Effects of the treatment
In the search for a universal treatment for alopecia areata clinical studies were carried out that involved a combination of the 2 drugs. Six patients were treated with oral prednisolone 5mg. /kg for 2 months. 2.5mg/kg of oral cyclosporine was then given and the two were administered together then the prednisolone was reduced when the cyclosporine was stopped. Hair growth was observed in all six patients treated one month after the cyclosporine was stopped, and the hair growth continued for 6 months. The patients treated with cyclosporine responded well until the drug was stopped and eventually the patients relapsed. Some could not take part in the tests due to side effects. Usually combined with prednisolone a number of clinical tests have been conducted but many more need to be carried out before such treatment can be called a success. Cyclosporine does not get a lot of coverage in all the trials carried out in the search for a cure for alopecia areata because though it does seem to help in the growth of cosmetically acceptable hair, in all trials this growth stopped when the drug was discontinued and the patients relapsed. It could not be said that such treatment was successful but it does suggest that more intense clinical tests may prove to be useful in the development of a cure for alopecia areata. It can never be a regular cure because of the numerous side effects that result in use.
Application of treatment
Usually used in an oral form cyclosporine is usually used in conjunction with other drugs but has been tested mainly as a partner to prednisolone and has been given in small quantities and for relatively short periods because of the severe side effects that can occur with prolonged use of this drug. As it is used in preventing the rejection of transplant organs it is obviously an important drug but its use to grow hair is questionable.
Result of treatment
As previously stated there is little real information given in regard to the results of this drug. Though there appears to have been some success in the use of the drug in combination with others it is felt that the risk may outweigh the advantages. Although a large percentage did get hair regrowth it stopped on the discontinuation of cyclosporine and some patients were not even able to take part in the tests because of side effects that developed.
Side effects
There are several minor side effects associated with the drug such as acne, dizziness, nausea, sleeplessness, stomach upset, runny nose and vomiting. Although not considered serious the combined affect of so many symptoms would definitely be considered serious.
The more serious side effects include severe allergic reactions, black tarry stools, and a whole host of further serious symptoms which demonstrate the need for particular care when offering cyclosporine as a possible cure for what is effectively a cosmetic disease. It is also linked to renal disfunction, and cardiovascular problems and virtually all of the body can be affected by this drug.
Conclusion
Although the disease can be embarrassing and cause anxiety in the patients it seems that some very serious drugs are being used on patients and that maybe there is a case of overkill in the efforts. The side effects read like a medical dictionary and one has to question the continued use of such drugs on patients with alopecia areata.