A Case of Alopecia Areata Associated with Low Dosage Valproic Acid Treatment

September 2007 in “ European journal of paediatric neurology ”

Mine Cinbiş, N. Parlaz

alopecia areata valproic acid VPA drug-induced alopecia antiepileptic drug hair loss valproate

TLDR Low dose valproic acid treatment caused hair loss in a young patient.

The document presents a case of alopecia areata associated with low dosage valproic acid (VPA) treatment in a 7-year-old patient. The patient developed a localized patch of hair loss (1.5x1 cm) on the 7th day of starting VPA therapy at a low dosage of 10 mg/kg/day. Drug-induced alopecia is typically a diffuse, non-scarring type of hair loss that is reversible upon the discontinuation of the drug. VPA is recognized as a safe and effective antiepileptic drug, but it can have side effects such as weight gain, tremor, and hair loss, which may not improve with continued therapy but can respond to a reduction in dosage or a change in dosing regimen. Alopecia due to VPA is dose-dependent and has been reported in 2-12% of patients, with incidences up to 28% observed at high valproate concentrations.

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