Teriflunomide and Hair Disorders

The document reports on a retrospective analysis conducted to assess the type and frequency of hair adverse events in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with teriflunomide, a drug known to cause hair thinning and loss among other side effects. The study, which took place from March 2015 until January 2016, found that hair thinning and hair loss were the most common signs, resembling telogen effluvium. These adverse events were generally mild to moderate, with a median onset time of 99 days, and most patients showed improvement with common treatments or even without any corrective therapy while continuing teriflunomide. The study highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and a simple protocol, including dermatologic assessment, to rule out other types of alopecia and improve patient adherence to the medication. No commercial support was identified for this study.