The use of scalp hypothermia in the prevention of doxorubicin-induced hair loss.

A randomized clinical trial was performed to determine the effectiveness of scalp hypothermia in the prevention of hair loss associated with doxorubicin. Twenty-six patients were randomized to receive scalp hypothermia or chemotherapy alone. Data were analyzed on 25 patients: 12 in the treatment group and 13 in the control group. There was acceptable hair preservation in 75% of the patients who received the scalp hypothermia; only 8% of the patients in the control group had acceptable hair preservation (P = 0.0009). The data were further broken down into patients receiving low-dose doxorubicin and high-dose doxorubicin. Side effects were minimal. The results support the use of scalp hypothermia in reducing doxorubicin-induced alopecia.