Treatment of dissecting cellulitis of the scalp with tumour necrosis factor inhibitors: a retrospective multicentre study
Muslih Alzahrani, Victor Coste, Maria Polina Konstantinou, Z. Reguiaï, A. Villani, Claire Hotz, M. Viguier, C. Pruvost‐Balland, A. Dupuy, P. Wolkenstein, A. Brun, F. Aubin, Irène Gallais Sérézal
Abstract
Although retinoids are considered as the most effective treatment, management of dissecting cellulitis of the scalp (DCS) is often challenging. A multicentre retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents in treating DCS after failure of other conventional treatments. Twenty-six patients were included. After a mean treatment duration of 19 months (SD 21), the median Physician's Global Assessment score decreased from 3 to 1. The median number of inflammatory nodules and abscesses decreased from 7 to 0.5 and from 1 to 0, respectively. The median Dermatology Life Quality Index and numerical rating scale score for pain severity decreased from 10 to 8 and 6 to 1, respectively. The median treatment satisfaction was 7 out of 10 on the Patient Satisfaction Index. This study confirms the efficacy of anti-TNF agents in treating patients with DCS that is resistant to conventional therapies.