{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,31]],"date-time":"2026-01-31T04:46:16Z","timestamp":1769834776177,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"Mattioli1885","issue":"1","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:p>Introduction: Alopecia areata (AA) is a common autoimmune hair loss disorder. Intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (IL-TAC) and cryotherapy are both used for patchy AA, but their comparative efficacy and safety have not been systematically evaluated. Objectives: The primary objective was to compare the efficacy of IL-TAC versus cryotherapy in achieving \u226550% hair regrowth in patchy AA. Secondary objectives included comparing safety profiles and conducting subgroup analyses. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis per PRISMA 2020 guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD420251036356). Databases (PubMed, Scopus, CENTRAL, Google Scholar) were searched up to April 2025. Comparative studies of patients with patchy AA receiving IL-TAC or cryotherapy were included. Risk of bias was assessed using ROB2 and ROBINS-I tools. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed for the primary outcome. Results: 640 patients across five trials were included. Sensitivity analysis of four studies demonstrated IL-TAC significantly increased the likelihood of \u226550% hair regrowth compared to cryotherapy (RR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.36\u20131.81, *p*&lt;0.001), with low heterogeneity (I\u00b2=21%). Subgroup analyses by study design and randomization status found no significant differences. Adverse event profiles differed: IL-TAC was associated with injection-site pain and skin atrophy, while cryotherapy caused transient pain, swelling, and bullae. Conclusions: Current evidence suggests IL-TAC is more effective than cryotherapy for significant hair regrowth in patchy AA, though both have distinct tolerability profiles. These findings support IL-TAC as a first-line procedural option, with cryotherapy remaining a viable alternative. Higher-quality comparative trials with standardized protocols and long-term follow-up are needed to confirm these findings.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.5826\/dpc.1601a6092","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,30]],"date-time":"2026-01-30T15:40:16Z","timestamp":1769787616000},"page":"6092","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Treatment Outcomes of Triamcinolone Acetonide Compared with Cryotherapy in Alopecia Areata: Evidence from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis"],"prefix":"10.5826","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-2869-1053","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Shams Samih Ahmad","family":"Albarari","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Tbilisi State University"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-6764-3053","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Taher Ahid","family":"Aisidat","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi, Georgia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-9211-1616","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ayman","family":"Musleh","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, The Univeristy of Jordan, Amman, Jordan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4857-4399","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sudeep","family":"Edpuganti","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi, Georgia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"27750","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"10.5826\/dpc.1601a6092_ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pratt CH, King LE, Messenger AG, Christiano AM, Sundberg JP. 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