Alopecia Areata Following Adalimumab

The document described a case where a 52-year-old woman with psoriatic arthritis developed alopecia areata after beginning treatment with adalimumab, a TNF-α inhibitor. This was the first reported instance of alopecia areata onset following adalimumab treatment. The case contributed to the unexpected link between TNF-α inhibitors and alopecia areata, challenging the previously held belief that TNF-α plays a role in the disease's pathogenesis. It suggested that blocking TNF-α might disrupt immune balance, causing inflammation and hair loss. The paper emphasized the need for clinicians to consider the possibility of TNF-α blockers inducing alopecia areata in patients.