Dystrophic Anagen Effluvium Occurring During Pegylated Interferon-α-2a/Ribavirin Therapy
March 2015
in “
Hepatitis Monthly
”
TLDR A woman's hair loss during Hepatitis C treatment with PEG-INF-a-2a and Ribavirin was reversible after stopping the medication.
The document describes a unique case of a 43-year-old woman who developed dystrophic anagen effluvium (DAE), rheumatoid arthritis, and Hashimoto thyroiditis while on Pegylated Interferon-α-2a (PEG-INF-a-2a) and Ribavirin (RBV) therapy for chronic Hepatitis C. The patient's hair loss, which started nine months into the treatment, was notable for the absence of inflammation and a high number of dystrophic anagen hairs. This was the first documented case of DAE linked to PEG-INF-a-2a/RBV therapy. The patient's hair regrowth commenced three weeks after discontinuing the treatment and was complete by four months. The study suggests a possible link between the alopecic effect and the pegylated form of interferon, indicating that while some hair loss from PEG-INF/RBV therapy is reversible, it may vary based on the hair cycle phase, the severity of damage, interferon subtype, and individual factors. The persistence of anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies after hair recovery suggests an immunological impact of the therapy. The authors recommend considering DAE in differential diagnosis for patients on antiviral therapy experiencing hair loss and call for more research to understand the phenomenon.
