TLDR Some patients developed hair loss after islet cell transplant possibly due to their immune-suppressing medications.
The document described three cases of alopecia in female patients following clinical islet transplantation for type 1 diabetes, potentially linked to tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive therapy. Alopecia developed approximately 7 years post-transplant, with two patients also receiving thymoglobulin. The incidence of alopecia post-transplant was estimated at <2.5% over 5 years, higher than the <1% prevalence in pre-transplant candidates. Despite the small sample size, the study suggested a potential link between immunosuppressive therapy and alopecia, highlighting the need for further research and discussion of this risk with transplant candidates.
391 citations
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January 2010 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Half of people with Alopecia Areata may see hair regrowth within a year without treatment, but recovery is unpredictable.
5 citations
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September 2008 in “Journal of the Chinese Medical Association” A kidney transplant patient got a fungal infection from her dogs, but treatment improved her condition and hair grew back.
75 citations
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June 2005 in “Archives of Dermatology” Etanercept may not prevent alopecia areata from coming back.
30 citations
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January 1999 in “Dermatology” Cyclosporine A can help some people with severe alopecia areata regrow hair.
17 citations
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December 1997 in “Transplantation” Tacrolimus can cause hair loss in kidney transplant patients.
26 citations
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July 1992 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Oral cyclosporine A and prednisolone effectively improved alopecia universalis without side effects.
March 2025 in “JAAD International” Alopecia areata is rare in organ transplant patients and may be linked to the drug tacrolimus.
September 2011 in “American Journal of Transplantation” Hair regrowth in alopecia universalis may be possible by altering immune cells.
98 citations
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March 2019 in “Frontiers in immunology” Damaging mutations in NFKB2 cause a severe and distinct form of primary immunodeficiency with early-onset and often ACTH-deficiency.
151 citations
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February 2007 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Alopecia areata causes hair loss, has no cure, and various treatments exist.
4 citations
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July 2001 in “Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery” Tacrolimus is an effective treatment for several skin conditions with fewer side effects than cyclosporine.
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