TLDR Hair loss in Cronkhite-Canada syndrome may be caused by autoimmune factors, not just stress or malabsorption.
The document discusses a case of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS), a rare condition characterized by intestinal polyps, diarrhea, dysgeusia, alopecia, onychomadesis, and hyperpigmentation, which may have an autoimmune component. A 55-year-old man with CCS experienced rapid hair loss, which was initially thought to be telogen effluvium—a condition often triggered by physical stress or malabsorption—since hair-pull testing showed telogen roots. However, trichoscopy and histopathology revealed signs of autoimmune activity, such as black dots and mild lymphocytic infiltrate around vellus anagen hair bulbs, which are not typical for telogen effluvium but suggest similarities to alopecia areata. Treatment with systemic prednisolone led to the resolution of diarrhea, shrinking of polyps, and complete hair regrowth within 13 weeks. This case supports the hypothesis that alopecia in CCS may be partly due to autoimmune mechanisms, challenging the assumption that it is solely telogen effluvium. More studies are needed to establish the pathophysiology of alopecia in CCS.
7 citations,
December 2016 in “British Journal of Dermatology” The report suggests that hair loss in Cronkhite-Canada syndrome may be caused by alopecia areata incognita, as shown by a patient's improvement with treatment.
16 citations,
May 2013 in “Australasian Journal of Dermatology” Hair loss in Cronkhite-Canada syndrome is reversible by treating the gut issues and doesn't need steroid treatment for the hair itself.
245 citations,
March 2012 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Dermatoscopy is useful for identifying different hair and scalp conditions and can reduce the need for biopsies.
Alopecia Areata has no cure, treatments are limited, and the condition often recurs, but new therapies like JAK inhibitors show promise.
16 citations,
May 2013 in “Australasian Journal of Dermatology” Hair loss in Cronkhite-Canada syndrome is reversible by treating the gut issues and doesn't need steroid treatment for the hair itself.
7 citations,
December 2016 in “British Journal of Dermatology” The report suggests that hair loss in Cronkhite-Canada syndrome may be caused by alopecia areata incognita, as shown by a patient's improvement with treatment.
5 citations,
September 2017 in “Medicine” A patient with Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome developed colon cancer that spread to the liver, showing the need for regular cancer checks in such patients.
85 citations,
June 2015 in “Scientific Reports” The study found that diseases can be grouped by symptoms and that the accuracy of predicting disease-related genes varies with the data source.
