Shedding light on therapeutics in alopecia and their relevance to COVID-19

Clin Dermatol. 2021 Jan-Feb;39(1):76-83. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2020.12.015. Epub 2020 Dec 16.

Abstract

As of July 9, 2020, there were more than 12 million confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) across the globe, with more than 550,000 deaths. Many European countries, including Belgium, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain, have had the highest numbers of fatalities per capita. This indicates the potential for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus to overwhelm even the most advanced health care systems despite extreme societal interventions. Since its emergence, SARS-CoV-2 has disseminated across the globe, affecting the structure of global societies, infrastructure, and economies. Patients with alopecia are a diverse group who, for various indications, are prescribed a number of antimicrobials and antiandrogen treatments in addition to immunomodulatory therapies such as hydroxychloroquine, oral corticosteroids, and a range of broad immunosuppressants. These drugs are being scrutinized for their capacity to potentially affect SARS-CoV-2 outcomes. We examine these treatments and highlight the critical role that patient registries will play in generating real-world evidence to assess their impact on COVID-19 outcomes.

MeSH terms

  • Alopecia / classification
  • Alopecia / drug therapy*
  • Androgen Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment*
  • Cyclosporine / therapeutic use
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hydroxychloroquine / therapeutic use
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Janus Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Methotrexate / therapeutic use
  • Prognosis
  • Registries
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Androgen Antagonists
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antimalarials
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Janus Kinase Inhibitors
  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • Cyclosporine
  • Methotrexate