A Case of Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia in a Patient with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica

January 2016 in “ Skin appendage disorders ”

Ariana Eginli, Courtney W. Bagayoko, Amy Mcmichael

frontal fibrosing alopecia primary biliary cirrhosis polymyalgia rheumatica clobetasol tacrolimus prednisone ursodiol minoxidil finasteride doxycycline autoimmune etiology FFA PBC PMR Rogaine Propecia

From the encyclopedia

Minoxidil →

An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

Finasteride →

Frontline, gold standard treatment for combatting androgenic alopecia

Studysummary This case report describes frontal fibrosing alopecia in a woman with primary biliary cirrhosis and polymyalgia rheumatica, suggesting a possible autoimmune link to this form of hair loss. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

This case report described a 59-year-old woman with frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) who also had primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), suggesting a potential autoimmune etiology for FFA. The patient's treatment included clobetasol, tacrolimus, prednisone, ursodiol, minoxidil, finasteride, and doxycycline. The report highlighted the importance of considering autoimmune associations in FFA and the need for further research into the genetic and immunological links between these diseases.

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research Case Series of Familial Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia and a Review of the Literature

33 citations , January 2015 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

This study reports that familial frontal fibrosing alopecia was diagnosed earlier in premenopausal women compared to postmenopausal women, though long-term outcomes remain uncertain without a definitive treatment.

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”

This study found that early intervention and treatment with intralesional triamcinolone acetonide may stabilize hairline recession in patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia, although further research is needed for definitive treatment guidelines.

research Postmenopausal Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: A Frontal Variant of Lichen Planopilaris

329 citations , January 1997 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

This study reports that progressive frontal fibrosing alopecia, a distinct and gradually stabilizing form of lichen planopilaris affecting elderly women and often involving eyebrow hair loss, lacks effective treatments.

research Postmenopausal Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia

325 citations , June 1994 in “Archives of Dermatology”

This study observed that progressive frontal recession in postmenopausal women may exhibit features of fibrosing alopecia, suggesting a distinct reaction pattern from typical lichen planopilaris.

research Postmenopausal Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: Scarring Alopecia in a Pattern Distribution

332 citations , June 1994 in “Archives of Dermatology”

This study found that progressive frontal hairline recession in postmenopausal women may exhibit features similar to fibrosing alopecia, with histologic similarities to lichen planopilaris but lacking lesions of lichen planus.