Drug-Induced Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review

May 2023 in “ Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology ”

Ogechi Ezemma, Shivali Devjani, Balaji Jothishankar, Kristen J. Kelley, Maryanne M. Senna

alopecia areata drug-induced alopecia areata monoclonal antibodies TNF-alpha inhibitors dupilumab AA tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors

TLDR Certain drugs can cause hair loss, but stopping the drug usually leads to hair regrowth.

This systematic review investigated drug-induced alopecia areata (AA) by analyzing 66 articles, including 102 patients, with an average age of 39.5 years. The study identified 30 drugs associated with AA, with monoclonal antibodies, particularly TNF-alpha inhibitors and dupilumab, being the most common culprits. Most patients (70.5%) experienced patchy AA, and the average time to onset was 11.7 months. Discontinuation of the drug led to hair regrowth in nearly all cases, while those who continued the drug required additional treatment for regrowth. The study highlights the need for clinicians to recognize AA as a potential side effect of certain medications, although a definitive causal relationship could not be established.

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Research cited in this study

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research The Changing Landscape of Alopecia Areata: The Therapeutic Paradigm

77 citations, June 2017 in “Advances in Therapy”

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research Overview of Alopecia Areata

110 citations, December 2013 in “The journal of investigative dermatology. Symposium proceedings/The Journal of investigative dermatology symposium proceedings”

Alopecia areata is a genetic and immune-related hair loss condition that is often associated with other autoimmune diseases and does not typically cause permanent damage to hair follicles.

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