Background Various systemic agents have been assessed for treatment of alopecia areata; however, there is a paucity of comparative studies. Aim To compare the efficacy of azathioprine versus mesalazine in the treatment of severe alopecia areata. Methods Our study was carried out in 30 patients with severe alopecia areata divided into two groups, group A: fifteen patients were treated by azathioprine in an oral dose of 1–2 mg/kg/day and group B: fifteen patients were treated by mesalazine in an oral dose of 15–30 mg/kg/day in two divided doses. The treatment was considered effective if percentage regrowth of hair was determined by change in SALT score >50 from base line after 6 months of treatment. The treatment was continued for 3–6 months after complete remission to minimize the risk of relapse. The dose was gradually tapered during this time. Results The study found that there is statistically significant difference between mean SALT scores before treatment and after 6 months of treatment in both groups. In group A, SALT score at base line was 84.42 ± 17.41, after 6 months it was 35.95 ± 35.79 (p value 0.04). In group B, SALT score at base line was 73.06 ± 22.10, after 6 months it was 23.04± 12.27 (p value 0.037). Changes in SALT score after 6 months were −27.74 ± 20.66 in group A and −60.42±38.41 in group B (p value 0.055). Conclusion Mesalazine may be considered as effective as azathioprine with lesser side effects. Azathioprine is also considered safe. However, a large group study should be performed to confirm these findings.

Background: Latanoprost [LT], a prostaglandin F2-alpha [PGF2α] analogue used in the treatment of glaucoma. It induces skin pigmentation in guinea pigs. The rationale of trying 5-fluorouracil [5-FU] in vitiligo treatment may come from the first report of hyperpigmentation induced by 5-FU as a side effect in the skin tumors and psoriasis treatment The Aim of the work: Comparison between the efficacy of topical latanoprost versus topical 5-fluorouracil after skin dermabrasion in induction of skin repigmentation in stable non-segmental vitiligo. Patients and Methods: This study included thirty Egyptian patients, 18-60 years old, with stable non-segmental vitiligo. They were divided into: group [A] patients subjected to 5 fluorouracil after dermabrasion and group [B] patientssubjected to latanoprost after dermabrasion then followed up every two weeks for three months.Result: There was no statistically significant difference between both groups regarding total response to treatment and degree of repigmentation. However, there was higher response to treatment in group A than group B. In both groups patients were satisfied with the degree of improvement. As regard complication there were minimal complications only one case of koebnerization and two cases of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation Conclusion: 5-fluorouracil 5% was associated with better improvement than latanoprost. However, the difference did not reach statistical significance. Patients reported high satisfaction with the two treatment modalities.