Severe Psoriasis Leading to Scarring Alopecia of the Scalp Responding to Biologic Therapy

    Hayden YK Fung, Kateryna Karpoff, Mark Lebwohl
    Studysummary This case report presents the first known instance of bimekizumab improving psoriatic scarring alopecia, suggesting potential benefits of dual IL-17A/IL-17F blockade for this rare and challenging condition, warranting further investigation.
    Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
    A 36-year-old woman with severe scalp psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis experienced progressive hair loss and scarring alopecia despite various treatments. After a two-year treatment hiatus, she was treated with bimekizumab 320 mg every 4 weeks, which led to an improvement in scalp erythema, scaling, and hair density, although she developed bimekizumab-associated eczema managed with dupilumab. Transitioning to maintenance dosing every 8 weeks resulted in disease recurrence, which improved upon returning to the original dosing schedule. This case suggests that bimekizumab, a dual IL-17A/IL-17F blocker, may be effective for psoriatic scarring alopecia, a rare and challenging condition, and highlights the need for further research.
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