BACKGROUND: In alopecia areata, there is a sudden and asymptomatic hair loss in any hairy area of the body. The etiology is unknown and the treatments do not usually alter its natural and unpredictable course. It also occurs in children, who are less responsive to treatment and more susceptible to extensive forms of the disease. Atopy is considered a worsening factor in the prognosis; the relationship between both diseases is probably immunologic, but the point of connection is unknown. OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the efficacy of 0.05% betamethasone dipropionate (cream), and the influence of atopy in the therapeutic response. METHODS: Prospective double-blind controlled assay in 35 children, aged up to 12 years with alopecia areata, attended at Instituto de Puericultura e Pediatria Martagão Gesteira - UFRJ and Hospital Municipal Jesus - RJ in the period 1996 -1998. RESULTS: Thirty (85.7%) out of the 35 children studied achieved positive response after six months follow-up. The response was similar in both therapies - betamethasone dipropionate and placebo (p = 0.47). Twenty-six (89.6%) out of the 29 atopic children had a positive response. No significant correlation has been established between therapeutic response and atopy (p = 0.19). CONCLUSION: There was no statistically significant difference between therapeutic responses; atopy did ot influence the therapeutic response.
alopecia areata; adrenal cortex hormones; child
