Clinical Response to Combined Therapy of Cyclosporine and Prednisone

Reported is a patient with severe alopecia areata, multiple autoimmune diseases (chronic lymphocytic thyroidis, primary ovarian failure), and Down syndrome. She had a poor response to topical treatment with glucocorticoids and minoxidil, but showed some improvement with glucocorticoid injections. At the time of evaluation, she had hair loss on 85–90% of her scalp. She was treated initially with oral prednisone 50 mg per day for 2 weeks, followed by a 3-month course of prednisone 10 mg per day and cyclosporine 125 mg (4 mg kg⁻¹) two times per day. She responded well with excellent regrowth of hair on the scalp, and prednisone was tapered and ultimately discontinued. Importantly, her parents noted marked improvement in sense of well-being. Several months after discontinuing treatment, she developed hyperpigmentation on the trunk consistent with confluent and reticulated papillomatosis; she has several known risk factors for this disorder, but it is not clear if this is related to her previous treatment.