A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing the Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of Oral Cyclosporine and Oral Betamethasone Minipulse Therapy in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

This study involving 60 patients compared the efficacy and safety of oral cyclosporine and oral betamethasone mini-pulse therapy for treating alopecia areata. Cyclosporine demonstrated a higher response rate (53.3%) compared to betamethasone (33.3%), with more patients reporting excellent or good hair regrowth. Although cyclosporine was associated with a higher incidence of mild adverse effects, such as gastrointestinal symptoms and hypertension, it was deemed superior in therapeutic efficacy, especially in severe cases. The study suggests cyclosporine as a potential first-line treatment, but recommends further large-scale studies to confirm these findings.