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Injections of triamcinolone acetonide (TMC) predictably induce hair regrowth in alopecia areata. What is the lowest effective dose? High doses can produce atrophic “dents” in the scalp and limit the area that can be safely injected without too much systemic absorption. Low doses may be ineffective.
In a small pilot study, investigators injected placebo or one of three concentrations of TMC (2.5, 5, or 10 mg/mL) into randomly assigned quadrants of four patients with untreated patch-type alopecia areata. Each quadrant received six evenly spaced injections of 0.1 mL TMC in normal saline or placebo, with reinjections every 6 weeks for 7.5 months using a 3-mL syringe and 30-gauge needle. Hair density was assessed visually and quantified with use …