Tacrolimus Treatment for Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is a chronic disease that causes bald patches to appear on the scalp. It can also cause hair loss on the eyelashes, eyebrows, and on the body. Tacrolimus is a treatment option that is in the early stages of being applied to those with alopecia areata.
Tacrolimus is an immunosuppressive drug used to help prevent rejection of transplanted organs similar to cyclosporine. It is also used in dermatitis, bone marrow transplants and the treatment of vitiligo.
Application of tacrolimus
Tacrolimus is usually applied as an ointment in the treatment of alopecia areata but one report from the department of dermatology at the university of California described a test in which eleven patients, with 10 – 75 % of the scalp affected for an average time of 6 years, received 0.1% of tacrolimus twice daily for a period of 24 weeks but no terminal hair growth was found and they concluded that the failure may have been due to the lack of penetration of the ointment and less than optimal patient selection. It seems to have been a thorough test for a long period with absolutely negative results.
Result of treatment
The only credible result of this treatment found was a total failure of the drug to produce any hair regrowth. Therefore the results of tacrolimus treatment for patients with alopecia areata is highly speculative and may not work in all cases.
Side effects
There are no credible studies as to the side effects, either short term or long term, in treating alopecia areata through tacrolimus. However since it is a similar drug to cyclosporine it would seem that the side effects would be similar and thus extensive. It would seem that the drug can affect every part of the body in a negative way. Through its use as a medicine to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs makes this form of treatment susceptible to a wide array of negative effects of various bodily organs, if not administered properly.
Conclusion
Though little is known about treatment of alopecia areata through tacrolimus, it can be used as a treatment of last resort, given the highly speculative nature of this treatment option for alopecia areata.