To Compare the Safety of Weekly Azathioprine Pulse (WAP) and Betamethasone Oral Mini Pulse (BOMP) in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata.

Abstract

Background&Method: A prospective & comparative clinical study done with an aim to
compare the safety of weekly azathioprine pulse (WAP) and betamethasone oral mini pulse
(BOMP) in the treatment of alopecia areata in Department of Dermatology, Venereology
&Leprology, MDM Hospital, Jodhpur. Sample size of total 60 patients, 30 in each group
Study duration of 01 year at patients of clinically diagnosed alopecia areata attending the skin
department of Dr. S. N. Medical College, Jodhpur.
Result:Nail involvement was seen in 28.34% of patients. 21.67% of the patients had less than
6 months of illness and 6.67% patients had greater than 6 month duration of illness. Odds
ratio = 0.631 and P value = 0.729 which meant that there is no statistically significant
association of nail involvement and duration of illness. Most common nail change was pitting
in 10% of patients followed by ridging (6.67%), ridging and pitting (5%), leuconychia
(3.3%), dystrophy (1.67%). One of our patient had twenty nail dystrophy.
Conclusion:The male to female ratio was found to be 3.23:1 which was comparable. Nail
changes were noted in 28.4% of patients. Majority of the patients (71.6%) had no associated
nail changes. Most common nail change was pitting followed by ridging. One of our patient
had twenty nail dystrophy. Pitting was associated with severity and duration of illness.
Thus the conclusion for the treatment of alopecia areata, weekly azathioprine pulse may be
considered as effective as oral betamethasone pulse with lesser side effects. Although BOMP
is also considered safe. However a large group study should be performed to confirm these
findings.