Alopecia areata in down syndrome: treatment with systemic steroid - an observation

Down syndrome (DS) is the most common congenital abnormality affecting numerous organs including skin and is associated with an increased incidence of alopecia areata (AA). DS is an extensively researched condition but AA seldom received appropriate attention. AA in DS is very refractory to treatment and there are only few relevant published data are available in medical literature. Two cases of alopecia areata associated with Down syndrome are presented here. These patients were treated with a short course of prednisolone; a good result was observed in one case but that was unsatisfactory in another case. The disease relapses in both cases within few months of treatment.