Comparison of efficacy, safety and satisfaction of latanoprost versus minoxidil, betamethasone and in combination in patients with alopecia areata: A blinded multiple group randomized controlled trial

Alopecia areata (AA), a polygenic and chronic autoimmune disease and there is no definitive cure. We aimed to evaluate latanoprost effects in patients with AA. In this controlled randomized double-blind clinical trial, we enrolled patients with AA randomly assigned to six groups of 18; Group 1 received latanoprost eye drops; group 2 minoxidil 5% solution; group 3 latanoprost eye drops and minoxidil 5% solution; group 4 betamethasone and minoxidil 5% solution; group 5 betamethasone solution and latanoprost eye drops; group 6 (the control group) betamethasone solution. The alopecia severity in patients before and after treatment was assessed by severity of alopecia tool (SALT). One hundred and eight patients, 50% male (mean age: 32.6 ± 10.4) were studied. The overall SALT score decreased in all. After 2 weeks, patients receiving betamethason-minoxidil and betamethason-latanoprost showed more decline in their SALT than other groups. In final, there was statistically significant difference among betamethasone-latanoprost group with minoxidil, betamethasone-minoxidil and betamethasone groups. Regrowth was higher in latanoprost and betamethasone-latanoprost groups than minoxidil. Topical latanoprost added to therapeutic efficacy of topical betamethason and minoxidil in treating patchy AA, suggesting it being beneficial and safe adjuvant therapy and add to efficacy of topical treatments without any adverse effects.