[Systemic therapy of diffuse effluvium and hair structure damage].

A controlled randomized double-blind study was carried out in 72 female patients to compare tolerance and efficacy of two therapeutic agents containing vitamins of the B-group and L-cystine in different compositions versus a placebo in diffuse effluvia and hair structure lesions. Hair swelling as a criterion of hair quality and frontal and parietal anagen rates in trichograms as criteria of hair growth were determined before and after 4 months of therapy. Treatment with active medication 1 was statistically significantly superior to treatment with the placebo according to these criteria. Treatment with active medication 2 was superior to treatment with the placebo but inferior to treatment with active medication 1. The overall evaluation of efficacy by investigator and patient was in good agreement with these results. The additional active ingredients contained in active medication 1 but not contained in active medication 2 contribute to the efficacy of the medication. They cannot be compensated by the higher amounts of L-cystine contained in active medication 2. Given their good tolerance, no adverse effects were observed with the two active medications.