A Case of Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus With Hair Loss as the First Diagnostic Symptom
May 2022
in “
Frontiers in Psychiatry
”
TLDR Hair loss was the first sign of a brain-related complication in a woman with lupus, and early treatment helped her hair grow back.
The document discusses a case of a 33-year-old woman who had recurring alopecia for over 3 years, which was later identified as a symptom of Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (NPSLE), a complication of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) with an incidence rate of 21-95%. Initially misdiagnosed with "alopecia areata", she was correctly diagnosed with SLE complicated with NPSLE after comprehensive tests. Treatment included oral medications, intrathecal and intralesional injections, and topical tacrolimus, which stopped further hair loss and promoted new hair growth in the non-cicatricial patchy alopecia area after 2 months. The study emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of NPSLE to prevent visceral damage, permanent baldness, and related psychological issues.
