Plica Neuropathica: Novel Presentation of a Rare Disease

The document reports a unique case of plica neuropathica, a rare condition characterized by sudden and complete matting of scalp hair, in a 14-year-old girl with multiple chronic medical conditions and no recent history of shampooing or hair neglect. Unlike typical cases associated with shampooing or neglect, this patient developed the condition while hospitalized for various acute and chronic illnesses, suggesting that other factors may contribute to its onset. The patient experienced severe hair loss, which began as slight shedding after starting azathioprine and progressed to complete loss of both matted and normal hair within 2 weeks. However, her hair eventually regrew to its pre-disease state. This case is notable for the absence of shampooing or unusual hair-care practices and the profound hair loss that followed the matting, making it a novel presentation of plica neuropathica.