Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Compound betamethasone injection (Diprospan) and Triamcinolone acetonide injection in alopecia areata.
Methods: Totally 160 outpatients who were diagnosed with alopecia areata were enrolled in this study from November 2007 to December 2009. They were divided into two groups: the treatment group used Diprospan (n=100) and the compare goup used Triamcinolone acetonide injection (n=60). The percentage of mild and moderate patients in treatment group were 45% and 36%, meanwhile the percentage in compare group were 53% and 32% (P>0.05). Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) was used to evaluate the area of alopecia areata. Each patient was treated once per three weeks and the total treatment period was 12 weeks. The clinical efficacy and adverse reaction were recorded in 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 6 months.
Results: The total efficacy ratio was statistically different between treatment goup and compare group (92% vs 68.3%, P<0.01). After 12 weeks treatment, the efficacy ratio was higher in mild and moderate patients compared to severe patients in treatment group (98.8% vs 63.2%, P<0.01). There was no significant difference of recurrent ratio between two groups in 3 and 6 months (16.3% vs 21.2%; 22.8% vs 32.7%, P>0.05). However, the recurrent ratio was lower in mild and moderate patients compared to severe patients in treatment group (P<0.05). The adverse reaction was not significantly different between two groups (16% vs 10%, P>0.05).
Conclusion: Compound betamethasone injection was efficacy and safety in treating alopecia areata, moreover it was suitable for mild and moderate patients.