Hypertrichosis of the Malar Areas and Poliosis of the Eyelashes Caused by Latanoprost

The document reports a case of a 64-year-old woman who developed hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth) of the malar (cheek) areas and poliosis (whitening) of the eyelashes after using latanoprost eye drops for glaucoma treatment for 3.5 years. Latanoprost is a prostaglandin F2-alpha analog known to lower intraocular pressure in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. The patient had no other signs of hypertrichosis on her body, and her biochemical and hormonal tests were normal. The document discusses that prostaglandin analogs can induce the anagen phase in eyelash follicles, leading to increased length and number of eyelashes. Hypertrichosis of the eyelashes is a common side effect of latanoprost, with reported rates as high as 77% and 50.5%. The document also mentions other local and systemic adverse effects of prostaglandin F2-alpha analogs. The authors highlight the importance of considering topical prostaglandin F2-alpha analog therapy as a possible cause of poliosis and hypertrichosis around the eyes.