Volume 35, Issue 11 e15868
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Efficacy and safety of oral pioglitazone in the management of lichen planopilaris in comparison with clobetasol: A randomized clinical trial

Vahideh Lajevardi

Vahideh Lajevardi

Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Search for more papers by this author
Maryam Ghiasi

Maryam Ghiasi

Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Search for more papers by this author
Kamran Balighi

Kamran Balighi

Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Search for more papers by this author
Maryam Daneshpazhooh

Maryam Daneshpazhooh

Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Search for more papers by this author
Pedram Molhem Azar

Pedram Molhem Azar

Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Search for more papers by this author
Nika Kianfar

Nika Kianfar

Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Search for more papers by this author
Shayan Dasdar

Shayan Dasdar

Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Search for more papers by this author
Amir Abbas Peymanfar

Corresponding Author

Amir Abbas Peymanfar

Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Correspondence

Amir Abbas Peymanfar, Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Vahdate-Eslami Square, 11996 Tehran, Iran.

Email: [email protected]

Search for more papers by this author
First published: 28 September 2022
Citations: 7

Abstract

Lichen planopilaris (LPP) is a scarring alopecia for which no treatment with remarkable effect has been identified. Pioglitazone has been reported as a possible therapeutic option. To compare the efficacy and safety of pioglitazone with clobetasol in LPP. This randomized, double-blind, parallel-group was conducted at Razi hospital. Patients were treated either with pioglitazone 15 mg/daily or clobetasol lotion 0.05% once at night for 6 months. Patients were visited every 2 months to assess the lichen planopilaris activity index (LPPAI) and record probable adverse events. Forty patients (mean age: 43.6 years; 62.5% female) were randomized 1:1. The mean of LPPAI at baseline and last session were 4.68 ± 1.97 and 2.59 ± 0.97 in the clobetasol group and 5.01 ± 1.71 and 3.04 ± 1.36 in the pioglitazone group, respectively. Both treatments significantly decreased the LPPAI over the two-month interval visits (p < 0.001). No significant difference in the LPPAI reduction was detected between groups. Regarding the safety profile, three clobetasol-treated patients developed folliculitis, and two in the pioglitazone group developed mild headaches. Pioglitazone effectively controlled the signs and symptoms of the LPP with no serious side effects. It can be considered a treatment option for LPP, although it was not superior to clobetasol.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.