Assessment of Treatment Efficacy of Diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) for Alopecia Areata.

: Background and Objectives Alopecia areata is an inflammatory disease with a genetic and autoimmune basis. We aimed to study the efficacy, and safety of an immunomodulatory therapeutic agent, diphenylcyclopropenone, while manifesting the association with histopathological features, prognostic factors and side effects. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, 98 patients (60 men, 38 women) with alopecia who were referred to the ?Hair Disease Polyclinic? at Department of Dermatology between 2011 and 2015 were included. Together with medical histories and dermatological examinations, all patients were taken a skin biopsy for histopathological examination prior to the therapy. Therapeutic success was evaluated on the basis of hair re-growth percentage. Results Regarding the overall treatment success, 33 (34%) patients had complete response, 16 (16%) patients had partial response (between 50-99%), 27 (28%) patients had minimal response (between 1-49%), and 22 (22%) patients were non-responders. Both genders were equally represented in the outcome. Conclusions There was a significant relation between the severity of alopecia and treatment outcome. (p=0.038) Patients with alopecia areata had significantly better response when compared to alopecia totalis and universalis. There was no statistically significant relation with other parameters such as disease duration, age, gender, atopy history, age of onset, and histopathological features.