Adalimumab-Related Alopecia in a Patient Affected by Psoriasis

January 2017 in “ Dermatology Online Journal ”

Gemma Melé‐Ninot, V. Expósito‐Serrano, Mònica Quintana Codina, Maribel Iglesias Sancho, M. Sánchez‐Regaña, Pablo Umbert Millet, Montse Salleras Redonnet

adalimumab alopecia psoriasis psoriasiform patches alopecia areata anti-TNF therapy eosinophils plasma cells scalp lesions Humira hair loss skin patches immune cells

TLDR Adalimumab can cause hair loss and scalp issues in some psoriasis patients.

A 50-year-old man with plaque psoriasis developed psoriasiform patches and alopecia on his scalp 10 months after starting adalimumab treatment. A biopsy showed psoriasiform epidermal changes and alopecia areata-like dermal changes, with a dermal inflammatory infiltrate of eosinophils and plasma cells. This case highlighted a rare occurrence of alopecia related to anti-TNF therapy, specifically adalimumab, in psoriasis patients. The condition might respond to topical treatments, but discontinuation of anti-TNF therapy should be considered in severe cases.

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