Alopecia Universalis as a Side Effect of Pegylated Interferon α-Ribavirin Combination Therapy for Hepatitis C: A Rare Case Report

In a rare case report from 2016, a 35-year-old male developed alopecia universalis (AU), characterized by the loss of all body and scalp hair, as a side effect after completing treatment with pegylated interferon α-2b and ribavirin for hepatitis C. The patient, who had no history of similar conditions, began experiencing significant hair loss eight weeks after the 24-week treatment ended, which progressed to complete hair loss over two months. A scalp biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of AU, showing patchy lymphocytic inflammation around hair follicles and an increased number of catagen follicles. This case was notable as it was the first reported instance of AU due to this antiviral therapy in India, and only seven such cases had been reported worldwide at the time. The paper emphasized the importance of healthcare providers being aware of this potential side effect and informing patients about it, considering the benign and reversible nature of AU. At the time of the report, 10 months had passed without hair regrowth for the patient, and a conservative therapy plan was set for one year, as there have been reports of improvement in AU after this period.