Remission of Alopecia Areata Post-Colectomy in a Patient with Crohn's Disease

A case report describes a 38-year-old male with Crohn's disease who developed alopecia areata (AA) while on infliximab treatment. Despite stopping infliximab and using corticosteroids and tofacitinib, the patient progressed to alopecia universalis. After undergoing colectomy due to Crohn's disease, the patient experienced complete hair regrowth within one year and maintained remission for two years without immunosuppressive therapy. This suggests a potential link between gut inflammation and AA, indicating that addressing primary intestinal inflammation might influence autoimmune conditions like AA. The case highlights the importance of targeting primary inflammatory sources for broader immunologic benefits in patients with concurrent autoimmune diseases.