Hepatitis C Treatment and Alopecia Totalis

In the document, a case of alopecia universalis occurring after treatment for chronic hepatitis C with telaprevir, peg-interferon alfa-2a, and ribavirin is presented. The 59-year-old male patient, who had a history of patchy alopecia areata, experienced sudden onset alopecia totalis/universalis within 2 weeks after discontinuing the therapy. Despite normal thyroid function tests and a negative antinuclear antibody test, the patient declined treatment for his hair loss. This case is notable as the first reported instance of alopecia areata onset after therapy discontinuation and with a previous history of the condition unrelated to interferon. The document also references five other cases of alopecia totalis or universalis during similar hepatitis C treatments, with all but one showing complete hair regrowth within about a year of stopping the therapy. The case contributes to the understanding of the immunological role of interferon alpha in triggering alopecia areata.