Treatment of Alopecia Areata With Diphencyprone

Abstract

Forty-five patients with extensive alopecia areata were treated by local application of diphencyprone. Only eleven had satisfactory regrowth of hair. Six had moderate regrowth, and of the remaining 28 some showed regrowth ofvellus hair and others had no response. The side effects of the treatment consisted of intense allergic or irritant reactions, febrile reactions, anaphylactic reaction with fainting, and vitiligo. In twelve patients progressive desensitisation was observed. As the effectiveness of this treatment is low and side effects are common and sometimes severe, we conclude that diphencyprone has no advantage in the treatment of alopecia areata.

The therapeutic use of topical contact sensitizers in benign dermatoses

“…A number of patients may need to discontinue treatment or to switch to another sensitizer because of repeated development of generalized eczema (1–40% of patients) 49,62 , 65,66 , 71,88–93 or urticaria (2–10% of patients) 49,73 , 89,94–100 occurring after each application. Local blistering and swelling, 42,49 , 101 pompholyx‐like eruptions, 65,102 passive transfer of the sensitizer causing eczema distant from the application site 42,43,64,65,68,71,103 and regional lymphadenopathy 36,62 , 65,89 , 90,101 are common.…”

“…Local blistering and swelling, 42,49 , 101 pompholyx‐like eruptions, 65,102 passive transfer of the sensitizer causing eczema distant from the application site 42,43,64,65,68,71,103 and regional lymphadenopathy 36,62 , 65,89 , 90,101 are common. Erythema multiforme‐like reactions, 49,60 , 62,104–108 fever, 92 palpitations, 73 flu‐like symptoms 65,94 and headache 49,69 are infrequent. Vitiligo 60,62 , 75–80,92 , 109 occurs in about 7% of patients treated, similar to the 4–9% incidence of vitiligo in untreated AA.…”

Anaphylaxis to diphenylcyclopropenone during sensitization for wart treatment—A case report

“…DPCP is commonly used in the armamentarium of wart treatments in the dermatologist's office. Hatzis et al 3 briefly mentioned a case of presumed anaphylaxis to DPCP during alopecia areata treatment when a patient fainted and was subsequently found to be SPT positive to DCPC. 3 Our case is the first reported case of anaphylaxis to DPCP in children and anaphylaxis during sensitization stage in both children and adults.…”

“…Hatzis et al 3 briefly mentioned a case of presumed anaphylaxis to DPCP during alopecia areata treatment when a patient fainted and was subsequently found to be SPT positive to DCPC. 3 Our case is the first reported case of anaphylaxis to DPCP in children and anaphylaxis during sensitization stage in both children and adults. This case is additionally noteworthy, as our patient had both type I and type IV hypersensitivity reactions after only brief initial exposure to DPCP.…”

“… 2 Only one case of probable anaphylaxis was briefly reported in an adult in 1988. 3 This article reports a case of anaphylaxis to DPCP upon first application (sensitization stage) in a 7-year-old boy.…”