Hair Loss and 5-Aminosalicylic Acid Enemas

The document reported two cases of accelerated hair loss associated with the use of 5-aminosalicylic acid enemas for treating ulcerative proctitis. This was notable because 5-aminosalicylic acid, unlike its precursor sulfasalazine, was believed to be free of side effects. The cases involved a 24-year-old man with idiopathic distal ulcerative colitis, suggesting a potential side effect of hair loss from this treatment, which was previously considered unlikely.