Abstract: Objective: To access the efficacy of adalimumab in the treatment of folliculitis decalvans that failed traditional treatment. Methods: The patients with folliculitis decalvans who failed traditional treatment were treated with adalimumab after excluding the contraindication of biologic agents. The changes of the rash were observed, and the clinical characteristics and treatment methods of the cases reported in foreign literatures were summarized and analyzed. Results: A total of 33 patients were analyzed in this paper. Among them, 5 patients were treated in our hospital, and 28 cases were from previous literature reports. Among the 33 patients, 22 were male and 11 were female, with an age of (40±13) years. The course of the disease ranged from half a year to 10 years (with an average of 4.30 years). After all patients were treated with adalimumab for 2 months, their clinical symptoms were significantly improved. The treatment duration ranged from 3 months to 2 years, and no obvious adverse reactions were observed. Five patients in our hospital were followed up for half a year to 1 year, and no recurrence was found. The recurrence situation of cases in the literature was unknown. Conclusion: Adalimumab is safe and effective in the treatment of folliculitis decalvans, but its long-term efficacy and recurrence time after drug withdrawal need further follow-up observation.

Key words: folliculitis decalvans, adalimumab, TNF-α inhibitors