Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia Coexisting With Lupus Erythematosus: Poor Response To Hydroxychloroquine

January 2016 in “ Skin Appendage Disorders ”

Letícia Arsie Contin, Elisa Raquel Martins da Costa Marques, Leandro Fonseca Noriega

frontal fibrosing alopecia lupus erythematosus hydroxychloroquine lichen planopilaris antilymphocytic effects progressive alopecia FFA LE

TLDR Hydroxychloroquine is ineffective for treating frontal fibrosing alopecia with lupus erythematosus.

The document reported on 4 female patients with coexisting frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) and lupus erythematosus (LE), who showed poor response to hydroxychloroquine treatment. Despite treatment, all patients experienced progressive alopecia in the frontotemporal hairline. The study suggested a common immune background for FFA and LE, explaining their association, and indicated that hydroxychloroquine, effective for LE, did not halt FFA progression in these cases.

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Research cited in this study

9 / 9 results

research Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: A Retrospective Clinical Review of 62 Patients with Treatment Outcome and Long-Term Follow-Up

102 citations , April 2014 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

The treatment helped reduce symptoms and stabilize the hairline in most patients with Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia, but hair regrowth was limited.

research Treatment of Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia and Lichen Planopilaris: A Systematic Review

117 citations , March 2013 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

No effective treatment for frontal fibrosing alopecia was found, but oral 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors had the best response; for lichen planopilaris, topical corticosteroids were commonly used but had a high relapse rate.

research Discoid Lupus Alopecia Complicated by Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia on a Background of Androgenetic Alopecia

25 citations , March 2013 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Woman has discoid lupus, frontal fibrosing, and androgenetic alopecia.

research Treatment Options for Alopecia: An Update, Looking to the Future

35 citations , May 2012 in “Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy”

The document concludes that there are various treatments for different types of alopecia, but more research is needed for evidence-based treatments.

research Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: A Review of 60 Cases

166 citations , April 2012 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Mostly postmenopausal Caucasian women get Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia, which often includes eyebrow loss and has limited treatment success.

research The Pathogenesis of Primary Cicatricial Alopecias

150 citations , October 2010 in “The American Journal of Pathology”

The document concludes that more research is needed to better understand and treat primary cicatricial alopecias, and suggests a possible reclassification based on molecular pathways.

research Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: A Clinical Review of 36 Patients

159 citations , August 2010 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement”

Hydroxychloroquine effectively reduces symptoms of frontal fibrosing alopecia, especially in the first 6 months.

research Lichen Planopilaris: Retrospective Study and Stepwise Therapeutic Approach

43 citations , March 2009 in “Archives of dermatology”

No treatment showed clear superiority for lichen planopilaris.

research Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: A Survey in 16 Patients

123 citations , August 2005 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

The study found that Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia affects a broader age range of women and early treatment can help stop hair loss.

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