Alopecia in Anticoagulated Patients

The 2020 document "Alopecia em pacientes anticoagulados" reviewed the link between anticoagulant therapy and hair loss (alopecia). It found that patients on anticoagulant therapy had a higher incidence of alopecia, with hair loss typically starting 2 to 4 months after beginning treatment, beginning in the frontotemporal area and later extending to the rest of the scalp. This side effect was more common in female patients and could continue even after stopping the medication, with hair regrowth taking up to 3 months to begin. The exact mechanisms causing this hair loss were not fully understood. The review suggested that healthcare providers should consider this potential side effect when prescribing anticoagulant therapy, investigate other conditions associated with alopecia when prolonged anticoagulation is necessary, and consider dermatological treatment. The definitive treatment for anticoagulant-induced alopecia was withdrawal of the medication. The number of participants in the study was not mentioned.