ClinicalTrials.gg
Not yet recruitingNCT07453238CALISTA-AAUpdated Sep 21, 2026

Comparison of Topical Calcipotriol and Intralesional Steroids in Alopecia Areata

A Phase 4 interventional study of Calcipotriol and Triamcinolone Acetonide in Alopecia Areata, sponsored by Hayat Abad Medical Complex, Peshawar. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 50 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-21.

Sponsored by Hayat Abad Medical Complex, Peshawar · Phase 4, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
60
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 50 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This randomized controlled trial compares the effectiveness of topical calcipotriol and intralesional corticosteroids in the treatment of alopecia areata. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that causes non-scarring hair loss and can significantly affect quality of life. Intralesional corticosteroids are commonly used as first-line therapy; however, response rates vary and treatment may be associated with discomfort and local adverse effects.

Sixty adult patients with patchy alopecia areata involving less than 50% of the scalp were randomly assigned to receive either topical calcipotriol or intralesional corticosteroid injections for 12 weeks. Participants were evaluated at four-week intervals. Treatment response was assessed using the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score and percentage improvement from baseline.

The primary objective is to compare reduction in SALT score between the two treatment groups. Secondary outcomes include overall treatment efficacy and safety. The findings aim to determine whether topical calcipotriol provides superior or comparable clinical benefit to intralesional corticosteroids in patients with alopecia areata.

Read the detailed description

Alopecia areata is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disorder characterized by patchy, non-scarring hair loss. Although intralesional corticosteroids remain a standard therapeutic option for localized disease, their efficacy may be inconsistent and repeated injections can cause pain, skin atrophy, and telangiectasia. Vitamin D analogs such as calcipotriol have immunomodulatory effects and may promote hair regrowth by influencing local immune responses and hair follicle cycling.

This study was designed as a single-center, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial conducted over six months at a tertiary care dermatology department. A total of 60 patients aged 18 to 50 years with clinically diagnosed patchy alopecia areata affecting less than 50% of the scalp were enrolled after informed consent. Participants who had received topical or systemic treatment for alopecia areata within the previous three months, had scarring alopecia, diffuse alopecia, systemic autoimmune disease, pregnancy, or known hypersensitivity to study medications were excluded.

Eligible participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio using a computer-generated randomization table into two groups:

Group A: Topical calcipotriol applied to affected areas.

Group B: Intralesional corticosteroid injections administered into lesions.

Treatment duration was 12 weeks with follow-up assessments at weeks 4, 8, and 12.

The primary outcome measure was change in Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score from baseline to week 12. Secondary outcomes included percentage improvement in SALT score, proportion of participants achieving predefined treatment efficacy, and recording of adverse events.

Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Continuous variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation, and categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages. Between-group comparisons were performed using independent t-tests and chi-square tests as appropriate, with a significance level set at p \< 0.05.

02

Conditions studied

  • Alopecia Areata

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Keywords

  • Alopecia Areata
  • Topical Calcipotriol
  • Intralesional Corticosteroids
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Hair Regrowth
  • Vitamin D Analog
  • Patchy Alopecia
03

In context

Alopecia Areata

220 studies on the registry are indexed under Alopecia Areata; 61 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 60 is above the median of 50 across 171 interventional studies indexed under Alopecia Areata.

Browse Alopecia Areata studies →

Lead sponsor

Hayat Abad Medical Complex, Peshawar is the lead sponsor of 13 studies on the registry; 5 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 50 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults aged 18 to 50 years
  • Clinically diagnosed patchy alopecia areata
  • Scalp involvement of less than 50% (SALT score \<50%)
  • No topical or systemic treatment for alopecia areata within the previous 3 months
  • Willingness to provide written

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Diffuse alopecia areata or scarring alopecia
  • Presence of other diseases or significant systemic illness
  • Known to calcipotriol or
  • Pregnant or lactating women
  • Current use of therapy
  • Unwillingness to participate or provide
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(5)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Autoimmune disease

A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.

Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

Immunosuppression

A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.

Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
60 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Topical Calcipotriol

    Participants in this arm received topical calcipotriol applied to affected scalp areas for 12 weeks. Treatment response was assessed at 4-week intervals using the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score

    Drug: Calcipotriol

  • Active comparator
    Intralesional Corticosteroids

    Participants in this arm received intralesional corticosteroid injections administered into alopecia lesions for 12 weeks. Clinical response was evaluated at 4-week intervals using the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score.

    Drug: Triamcinolone Acetonide

Interventions

  • Topical calcipotriol 0.005% ointment was applied to affected scalp areas twice daily for 12 weeks. Participants were instructed to apply a thin layer over alopecia patches and gently massage into the scalp. Treatment response was evaluated at weeks 4, 8, and 12 using the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score. Adverse effects were monitored throughout the study period

  • Triamcinolone acetonide was administered as intralesional injections at a concentration of 5 mg/mL into alopecia patches at 4-week intervals for 12 weeks. Injections were delivered intradermally using a fine-gauge needle, with dose distributed across affected lesions according to lesion size. Clinical response was assessed at weeks 4, 8, and 12 using the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score. Participants were monitored for local adverse effects such as skin atrophy and telangiectasia.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) Score From Baseline to Week 12

    The primary outcome is the change in Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score from baseline to 12 weeks of treatment. The SALT score quantifies the percentage of scalp hair loss. A greater reduction in SALT score indicates improved hair regrowth and treatment efficacy.

    Time frame: Baseline to Week 12

07

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

08

References and documents

Publications

  • Alam M, Amin SS, Adil M, Arif T, Zahra FT, Varshney I. Comparative Study of Efficacy of Topical Mometasone with Calcipotriol versus Mometasone Alone in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata. Int J Trichology. 2019 May-Jun;11(3):123-127. doi: 10.4103/ijt.ijt_18_19. PubMed 31360041 ↗
  • Lee S, Lee WS. Management of alopecia areata: Updates and algorithmic approach. J Dermatol. 2017 Nov;44(11):1199-1211. doi: 10.1111/1346-8138.13933. Epub 2017 Jun 21. PubMed 28635045 ↗
  • Strazzulla LC, Wang EHC, Avila L, Lo Sicco K, Brinster N, Christiano AM, Shapiro J. Alopecia areata: Disease characteristics, clinical evaluation, and new perspectives on pathogenesis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Jan;78(1):1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.04.1141. PubMed 29241771 ↗
  • Molinelli E, Campanati A, Brisigotti V, Sapigni C, Paolinelli M, Offidani A. Efficacy and Safety of Topical Calcipotriol 0.005% Versus Topical Clobetasol 0.05% in the Management of Alopecia Areata: An Intrasubject Pilot Study. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2020 Jun;10(3):515-521. doi: 10.1007/s13555-020-00379-7. Epub 2020 Apr 27. PubMed 32342443 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — Individual participant data will not be shared due to institutional policy and confidentiality considerations. The dataset contains sensitive patient information, and no formal data-sharing agreement or repository mechanism has been established for this study.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Start is estimated for Oct 2026; primary completion for Mar 2027, 5 months later.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Mar 2, 2026
First posted
Mar 5, 2026
StartEst.
Oct 1, 2026
Primary completionEst.
Mar 1, 2027
CompletionEst.
Mar 1, 2027
Last update
Sep 21, 2026
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 21, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07453238
Lead sponsor
Hayat Abad Medical Complex, Peshawar
Responsible party
Huma Gul (Principal Investigator, Hayat Abad Medical Complex, Peshawar) — Principal investigator
First posted
Mar 5, 2026
Start date
Oct 1, 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion
Mar 1, 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Mar 1, 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 21, 2026

Study contacts

Huma Gul Huma Gul, FCPS
Contact
gul.gullaii.1995@gmail.com
03319061411

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Mar 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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Discussion

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Studies of the drug tested here: Calcipotriene

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