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The therapeutic potential of hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of autoimmune alopecia
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Keywords

Autoimmune alopecias
Hydroxychloroquine
Therapeutic intervention

How to Cite

The therapeutic potential of hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of autoimmune alopecia. (2025). Revista Eletrônica Acervo Científico, 25, e20660. https://doi.org/10.25248/reac.e20660.2025

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Abstract

Objective: To analyze the types of autoimmune alopecia that benefit from the use of hydroxychloroquine. Methods: This is an Integrative Literature Review, with searches on the National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), Virtual Health Library (BVS) and the Journal Portal of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) platforms, in which the Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) in English "Hydroxychloroquine" AND "Alopecia" were used. With the application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 29 articles were selected that constituted this research. Results: The efficacy of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been observed to vary among types of autoimmune alopecia, and is often combined with other therapies, and its use requires monitoring. The subtype most frequently addressed in the studies was frontal fibrosing alopecia, with emphasis on stabilizing the condition, especially when used in combination with other therapies. Final considerations: HCQ showed greater efficacy in cicatricial autoimmune alopecias, with inflammatory stabilization and a favorable safety profile, especially in prolonged and combined use. In non-cicatricial alopecias, the results were inconsistent, restricting its use to refractory cases.

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