Long-Term Prognosis of Alopecia Totalis and Alopecia Universalis: A Longitudinal Study with More than 10 Years of Follow-Up: Better than Reported.

<bold>Background: </bold>In alopecia totalis (AT) and alopecia universalis (AU), the chance of full hair regrowth is known to be less than 10%. However, this information is based on a few older studies conducted in the 1950s and 1960s.<bold>Objective: </bold>We investigated the current long-term prognosis of individuals with AT/AU.<bold>Methods: </bold>A retrospective chart review was performed in patients with AT/AU between 1994 and 2005. Outcome data were collected by reviewing outpatient clinical files or by phone interviews. Finally, the long-term assessment of 70 patients with valid outcome data was performed.<bold>Results: </bold>Twelve out of 70 patients with AT/AU (17.1%) had complete hair regrowth. Five out of 24 patients with AT (20.8%) showed complete hair regrowth, and 7 of 46 patients with AU (15.2%) achieved complete regrowth. Seventeen out of 70 patients with AT/AU (24.2%) reported hair regrowth greater than or equal to 90%. Thirty patients with AU (65.2%) remained in an alopecic state without improvement, while 5 patients with AT (20.8%) showed no hair regrowth.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>Our results suggest that the long-term prognosis of AT/AU is more favorable than previously thought. However, the clinical burden of AT/AU is still substantial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]