Mycophenolate Mofetil (Cellcept) for Advanced Alopecia Areata: Not a Great Option

Mycophenolate Mofetil is not Usually Helpful For Advanced Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is understood to be an immune mediated disease. It follows that some immunosuppressive medications can be helpful to treat alopecia. However, all immunosuppressants are not equal in this regard. For example, JAK inhibitors, methotrexate, azathioprine and cyclosporine can be helpful to treat some forms of advanced alopecia areata. Other immunosuppressants such as mycophenolate mofetil seem less helpful. A 2004 study by Osman Köse and colleagues found no benefit for mycophenolate in 7 patients with alopecia areata treated with mycophenolate mofetil. 5 patients had no improvement at all and 2 had minimal improvement. Patients were all male and between 20 and 26 years of age and treated with 2 grams of mycophenolate mofetil daily for 4 months.

REFERENCE

Osman Köse et al. Mycophenolate mofetil in extensive Alopecia areata: no effect in seven patients. Dermatology. 2004;209(1):69-70.