Acute Hair Loss Three Years After Bone Marrow Transplant
January 2019
in “
Skin appendage disorders
”
acute hair loss allogeneic peripheral stem cell transplantation acute lymphoid leukemia hair thinning lower hair follicle density intermediate hairs vellus hairs inflammatory alopecias cicatricial alopecias scalp biopsy lichenoid reaction graft-versus-host disease GVHD chronic GVHD topical clobetasol propionate minoxidil non-scarring alopecia hair loss stem cell transplantation leukemia hair density scarring alopecias clobetasol Rogaine
TLDR A woman's sudden hair loss three years after a bone marrow transplant was a sign of chronic graft-versus-host disease but improved with treatment.
The document discusses the case of a 23-year-old female who developed acute scalp hair loss three years after undergoing an allogeneic peripheral stem cell transplantation for acute lymphoid leukemia. Physical examination and trichoscopy revealed signs of hair thinning, lower hair follicle density, and the presence of intermediate and vellus hairs, but no signs of inflammatory or cicatricial alopecias. A scalp biopsy was performed, which showed typical lichenoid reaction seen in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). GVHD is a serious complication that can occur after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and while acute hair loss is not a common manifestation of chronic GVHD, it can be a sign of GVHD activity. The patient's hair regrew after treatment with topical clobetasol propionate solution 0.05% and minoxidil 5% for one month, with no relapses. This case highlights that new onset of non-scarring alopecia after transplantation could be indicative of chronic GVHD.
