Alopecia Associated With Strontium Ranelate Use in a 62-Year-Old Woman

In a case report from 2012, a 62-year-old woman developed a headache and diffuse scalp hair loss one week after starting treatment with strontium ranelate for osteoporosis. Despite discontinuing the medication due to the severe headache, her hair loss continued for six weeks. Histopathological examination of scalp biopsies revealed anagen effluvium, a condition where hair loss occurs during the growth phase of the hair cycle. The patient's hair began to regrow slowly two months after stopping the strontium ranelate treatment. This case was reported to highlight the potential adverse effect of strontium ranelate treatment, which is an effective drug for osteoporosis but may rarely cause alopecia as a side effect. The report suggests that healthcare providers should be aware of this possible side effect, especially in Asian women.