Clinical Trial: Plaquenil for Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Open Label Study of Hydroxychloroquine for Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis

Brief Summary: Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition resulting in hair loss and complete baldness (alopecia totalis). Published evidence says that it is mediated by T-lymphocytes. Plaquenil is an anti-inflammatory drug approved by the FDA for malaria, lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis. It has an effect on T-lymphocyte mediated inflammation, making it a logical choice for a treatment trail for alopecia areata.

Detailed Summary: Alopecia areata is a high prevalence autoimmune disease with significant consequences. Alopecia areata is a tissue restricted autoimmune disease directed at the hair follicle, resulting in hair loss. Patients frequently suffer severe psychiatric consequences. This is especially true of girls and young women who become bald. The incidence of alopecia areata in the USA (Minnesota is 20.2 per 100,000 person-years with a lifetime risk of approximately 1.7%. There is no significant gender difference. The disease is often chronic with a remitting, relapsing course. Although it responds to immunosuppression, generalized immunosuppression has significant morbidity and treatment is frequently frustrating and not successful. New treatment options are essential. With evidence that alopecia areata is a T-lymphocyte mediated autoimmune condition it has become a model system for the study of pathogenesis and treatment of T-cell mediated autoimmunity and as such is a model for a host of additional T-cell mediated autoimmune conditions.
Sponsor: Hordinsky, Maria K., MD

Current Primary Outcome: Percent hair regrowth in each quadrant of the scalp will be estimated and statistical analysis performed to determine if there was any significant regrowth compared to pre-treatment photographs.

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

Original Secondary Outcome:

Information By: University of Minnesota - Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Dates:
Date Received: September 12, 2005
Date Started: April 2002
Date Completion:
Last Updated: August 12, 2009
Last Verified: August 2009