TLDR A woman's total hair loss from hepatitis C treatment grew back after stopping the medication.
In 2007, a 34-year-old female with chronic hepatitis C developed reversible alopecia universalis (AU) after being treated with PEG-interferon α-2b and ribavirin. She experienced complete hair loss by the fourth month of treatment, which progressed to AU by the seventh month. Despite this, treatment continued due to her positive response and tolerance of the side effect. Hair regrowth started within 3 months post-treatment, and she achieved sustained virologic and biochemical response 8 months later, although hair regrowth was incomplete. This case indicates that AU can be a reversible side effect of PEG-interferon α-2b and ribavirin therapy for chronic HCV, and treatment can be completed with good patient response and advanced liver disease.
27 citations,
April 2005 in “Journal of Chemotherapy” Some patients may experience temporary total hair loss from hepatitis C treatment with PEG-interferon and ribavirin.
34 citations,
August 2002 in “British Journal of Dermatology” ALA-PDT is effective and safe for chronic X-ray dermatitis, providing complete or partial remission.
16 citations,
August 2002 in “Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research” A man developed excessive hair growth after treatment with interferon-alpha and ribavirin for hepatitis C.
35 citations,
January 2002 in “Dermatology” A woman's hair loss during treatment with specific hepatitis C drugs grew back after stopping the medication.
45 citations,
January 1992 in “Dermatology” Half of the patients treated with a specific drug for skin cancer experienced hair loss not related to the drug's dosage.
6 citations,
October 2016 in “Journal of Chemotherapy” A man lost all his hair as a rare side effect after hepatitis C treatment.
2 citations,
March 2015 in “Hepatitis Monthly” A woman's hair loss during Hepatitis C treatment with PEG-INF-a-2a and Ribavirin was reversible after stopping the medication.
1 citations,
October 2013 in “Expert Review of Dermatology” Diagnosing alopecia areata is challenging and requires careful examination and various tests to distinguish it from other hair loss types.
9 citations,
November 2012 in “Hepatology Research” A man lost all his hair permanently after hepatitis C treatment, a side effect not seen before.
52 citations,
March 2010 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Alopecia areata shows a unique type 1 interferon signature, suggesting potential treatment by targeting this pathway.
