# Off-Label Treatment of Alopecia Areata—Retrospective Study

## TL;DR

This study examines the use of unapproved treatments for alopecia areata, an autoimmune hair loss condition, in a European clinic over ten years.

## Contribution

The study provides real-world data on the high frequency of off-label drug use for alopecia areata in clinical practice.

## Key findings

- Off-label pharmacotherapy was used in 77.9% of patients with alopecia areata.
- Glucocorticosteroids were the most commonly prescribed off-label agents.
- Monotherapy was the predominant treatment strategy.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder affecting approximately 2% of the global population and is associated with a substantial impairment in quality of life. Owing to the limited number of approved therapeutic options, off-label pharmacotherapy is frequently employed in clinical practice when managing this disease. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed electronic medical records of patients treated for alopecia areata at the University Clinical Centre in Gdańsk between 2014 and 2024 to characterize the epidemiological profile and real-world treatment patterns. Results: A total of 334 affected patients were identified, including 199 diagnosed exclusively with alopecia areata and others presenting with immune-mediated comorbidities, most commonly atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Among patients with isolated disease, women were more frequently affected and were older at diagnosis than men. Most individuals were managed in the outpatient setting, and demographic characteristics remained stable throughout the study period. Off-label pharmacotherapy was used in 77.9% of all patients and in 99.4% of those receiving drug treatment, with no significant associations observed between off-label use and age, sex, place of residence, or calendar year. Glucocorticosteroids, administered both topically and systemically, were the most commonly prescribed off-label agents (65.3%), and monotherapy was the predominant treatment strategy. Conclusions: These findings highlight the extensive reliance on off-label therapies in routine management of alopecia areata in a real-world European clinical setting.