Asymptomatic Hair Loss in a Patient With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
November 2023
in “
Cutis
”
Studysummary In this report, a 51-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus presented with recurrent joint pain and irregular patches of hair loss, raising differential diagnoses of androgenetic alopecia, lupus-related alopecia, or seborrheic dermatitis.
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A 51-year-old woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presented with asymptomatic hair loss. Dermoscopy and fungal microscopy revealed tinea capitis caused by Trichophyton tonsurans. The patient was treated with oral terbinafine 250 mg/d, resulting in visible hair regrowth after 4 weeks and no recurrence. This case highlights the importance of considering fungal infections like tinea capitis in immunocompromised patients, such as those with SLE, despite its rarity in adults.
