Clinical Profile and Predictors of Relapse in Patients with Alopecia Areata: A Follow-Up Study

This study investigated the relapse rates and predictors of relapse in 100 patients with alopecia areata (AA) who had achieved at least 90% hair regrowth. Over a mean follow-up of 13.9 months, 71 patients experienced a relapse. The study found that childhood-onset AA and extensive initial scalp involvement were associated with a higher likelihood of relapse, although the evidence was not statistically strong. The median time to relapse was 7 months, with a median survival of 12 months for those who relapsed. Extensive scalp involvement predicted an earlier relapse, with a median survival of 5 months compared to 12 months for limited involvement. The study suggests that maintenance treatment could be beneficial for patients with severe initial disease to prevent early relapse. Limitations include the short follow-up duration and potential recall bias.