Drug-Induced Alopecia After Dupilumab Therapy
December 2018
in “
JAAD case reports
”
TLDR Dupilumab may cause significant hair loss, which can reverse after stopping the drug.
This case report described a 27-year-old Hispanic man who developed drug-induced alopecia after 18 weeks of dupilumab therapy for atopic dermatitis. Despite initial improvements in his skin condition, he experienced significant hair loss, which did not improve with topical treatments. A punch biopsy revealed alopecia areata-like hair miniaturization and severe sebaceous gland atrophy. After discontinuing dupilumab and receiving intralesional steroid injections, the patient's hair loss reversed within 8 weeks. The report suggested a strong correlation between dupilumab and alopecia, though causation could not be definitively established. Further research was recommended to understand the underlying mechanisms and to guide treatment.