TREATMENT OF ALOPECIA AREATA: MODERN PRINCIPLES AND PERSPECTIVES

Alopecija areata (AA) česta je bolest koja se očituje neožiljnim gubitkom dlake na vlasištu i/ili tijelu. Folikul dlake u alopeciji areati nije nepovratno uništen, stoga potencijal za ponovni rast kose ostaje. Budući da je etiopatogeneza nepoznata, liječenje AA je simptomatsko i usmjereno na zaustavljanje aktivnosti bolesti. Limfociti oko dlačnog folikula, povišena razina autoprotutijela, poremećaj citokina te udruženost s drugim autoimunosnim bolestima, podupiru hipotezu da je AA organ-specifična autoimunosna bolest. Nova su istraživanja stoga usmjerena na razvoj lijekova koji bi imunomodulatornim ili imunosupresivnim djelovanjem potaknuli rast dlake. Proučavanje utjecaja novih bioloških lijekova na rast kose, kao i razvoj genske terapije u tijeku su. U radu će biti raspravljeni suvremeni principi i dostupne metode liječenja alopecije areate.Alopecia areata (AA) is a frequent disease with nonscarring hair loss on the scalp and/or body. Hair follicle in alopecia areata is not irreversibly destroyed, so potential for hair regrowth remains. Considering unknown etiopathogenesis, treatment of AA is symptomatic and directed toward halting disease activity. Lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrate around hair follicle, increased levels of autoantibodies, cytokine abnormalities and increased prevalence of autoimmune comorbidities, support the hypothesis of AA as an organ-specific autoimmune disorder. Therefore, investigations are directed toward new immunomodulatory or immunosupresive drugs with induction effect on hair growth. New biologic drugs and their influence on hair growth as well as genetic therapy for alopecia areata are currently under investigation. Contemporary principles in therapy of alopecia areata and treatments available will be discussed in this article