Alopecia Areata in an Adolescent With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

November 2016 in “ Clinical Pediatrics ”

Senthilkumar Sankararaman, Margaret Bobonich, Atiye Aktay

alopecia areata inflammatory bowel disease Crohn's disease methotrexate prednisolone azathioprine ophiasis pattern triamcinolone telogen effluvium dermatology IBD steroid injections

TLDR A girl with Crohn's disease developed hair loss from her medication, which improved with treatment but later returned.

The document described the case of an 11-year-old girl with Crohn's disease who developed alopecia areata after 15 months of methotrexate therapy. Initially treated with prednisolone and azathioprine, she had to discontinue azathioprine due to an allergic reaction. The alopecia areata presented with an ophiasis pattern and was treated with triamcinolone injections, which led to significant hair regrowth, though she experienced a recurrence after 6 months. The document highlighted the difficulty in distinguishing between alopecia areata and telogen effluvium in IBD patients, noting that alopecia may be multifactorial and underreported in this population. The authors recommended early and aggressive management of hair loss and referral to dermatology to improve outcomes, emphasizing the increased prevalence of alopecia areata in IBD patients and its potential impact on quality of life.

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