Diffuse Alopecia in a Hemodialysis Patient Caused by a Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin, Tinzaparin
May 2003
in “
American Journal of Kidney Diseases
”
TLDR A hemodialysis patient's hair loss was caused by the drug tinzaparin but stopped after switching to a different drug.
In 2003, a 66-year-old patient undergoing hemodialysis developed diffuse alopecia attributed to the use of tinzaparin, a low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). The alopecia stopped and hair regrowth was observed after the patient switched back to another LMWH, enoxaparin. A biopsy confirmed that the hair follicles normalized post-discontinuation of tinzaparin, indicating that the hair loss was specifically linked to this drug. This case underscores that different LMWHs can have distinct side effects, such as reversible alopecia.
