Korean J Dermatol.  1980 Jun;18(3):193-199.

Treatment of Alopecoa Areata with Dinitrochlorobenzene

• Kim YH
• Kim CW
• Houh W

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the therapeutic effect of dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) on alopecia areata. Forty patients with alopecia areata were sensitized by applying 0.1ml of 2% DNCB dissolved in aceton solution on the voiar aspect of left forearm. Patients were subsequently chaIlenged at weekly mtervals with 0. 1% DNCB solution appIied to one side of affected area for periods of 2 to 8 months. The other side of affected area was reserved as a contol site. The results were as follows. 1. In 29 out of 40 patients (72.5%), hair regrowth occurred either excIusiveIy on the treated site (18 cases) or considerably faster and denser on treated site(11 cases)(Table 1) 2. In the majority of cases, the regrowth of hair was observed, within eight weeks of the treatment. 3. The response to DNCB depended on the severity of the aIopecia. The response rate were 80.9% (17/21) in moderate degree (<25% bald area) cases, 68.7% (ll/16), in the extensive degree(>25% bald area) caes and 33% (1/3) in alopecia totalis(Tale 1) 4. The rate of response depended on the duration of the alopecia. Satisfaetory results were obtained in 19 out of 25 patients with a history of less than one year(76%), in 7 out of 10 patients with a history of one to three year(70%) and in 3 out of 5 patients with a history of more than three years (60%) (Table 2) 5. The main side reactions were burning sensation (3 cases), severe eczema (2 cases), folliculitis (2 cases) and cervical lymphadenopathy(7 cases). 6. Liver function test and complete blood cell count were in normal range during the course of treatment in 5 randomly selected patients. 7. Although the treatment of alopecia areata with DNCB still remains to be an experimental trial, this therapy could be substituted for corticosteroids in selected cases.

MeSH Terms

Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Alopecia
Alopecia Areata
Blood Cell Count
Burns
Dinitrochlorobenzene*
Eczema
Folliculitis
Forearm
Hair
Humans
Liver Function Tests
Reference Values
Sensation
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Dinitrochlorobenzene