Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38623137›Full record

ArticleCureus2024

Comparison of Efficacy of Topical Betamethasone Dipropionate and Topical Minoxidil in Patients With Alopecia Areata.

Sana Aslam, Aqsa Z Awan, Madiha M Iqbal, Saira Saeed, Mariyam Saeed, Zartaj Liaqat, Saad Abdullah Dar, Salamat Ali, Muhammad Ahsan Asif, Haseeb Mehmood Qadri

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
1.1field-weighted citation impact, top 26% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 5 institutions in 3 countries.

Sana AslamDermatology, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, PAK.
Aqsa Z AwanDermatology, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, PAK.
Madiha M IqbalDermatology, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, PAK.
Saira SaeedMedicine, University Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, GBR.
Mariyam SaeedMedicine, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, PAK.
Zartaj LiaqatDermatology, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, PAK.
Saad Abdullah DarMedicine, Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital, Gujrat, PAK.
Salamat AliMedicine, Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital, Gujrat, PAK.
Muhammad Ahsan AsifMedicine, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, PAK.
Haseeb Mehmood QadriSurgery, Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, PAK.
NIHR Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre · GBAbbasi Shaheed Hospital · PKJinnah Postgraduate Medical Center · PKUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital · USFatima Jinnah Medical University · PK

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background and objective Alopecia areata (AA) is a reiterative and nonscarring type of hair loss that can affect any hairy area of the body, particularly the scalp. It manifests as patchy or confluent hair loss with variations in demographics and ethnicity. There are numerous treatment options available, including topical and systemic steroids, topical minoxidil, dithranol, tacrolimus, psoralen and ultraviolet therapy (PUVA), contact immunotherapy, and oral immunosuppressive drugs. However, no previous contrast for efficacy is present between the topical betamethasone versus topical minoxidil alone in our population. This study aims to compare the efficacy of topical betamethasone dipropionate versus topical minoxidil in patients with AA. Methodology A nonrandomized controlled study was conducted at the Department of Dermatology, Jinnah Hospital Lahore, incorporating the data of patients between July 26, 2016, and January 26, 2017, after obtaining institutional ethical approval. One hundred patients with alopecia, either on the scalp or any other hairy part, from both genders, aged between 18 and 50 years, were included in the study. Two groups were created, and patients were assigned to these groups based on the clinician's choice. Group A patients were administered betamethasone dipropionate (0.05%) lotion twice daily on affected areas for 12 weeks. Group B patients were administered minoxidil (5%) solution twice daily on affected areas for 12 weeks. A four-week follow-up plan was followed. A five-point scale score system was used for alopecia grading. After 12 weeks, the hair regrowth score (RGS) was used to compare the efficacy of treatment between the two groups. Results A total of 100 patients with grades S1 to S3 AA of less than three months duration were enrolled. Two groups were created, with 50 patients in each group. The mean age in Group A was 29.08 ± 6.51 years, while in Group B, it was 29.38 ± 6.62 years. In Group A, there were 76% males and 24% females, while in Group B, there were 74% males and 26% females. Comparison of efficacy of topical betamethasone dipropionate versus topical minoxidil in patients with AA demonstrated a greater efficacy of 74% (Grade 3 and Grade 4 responses) in Group A, while in Group B, only 42% of patients showed efficacy. A statistically significant difference was found, with a

Indexed as

alopeciaalopecia areatabetamethasoneefficacyminoxidilpakistanpsoralenpuvatopicalultraviolet therapy

Identifiers

PMID38623137
PMCPMC11018260
OpenAlexW4392877620

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.