Alopecia Universalis: an extremely rare but probable adverse effect of adalimumab
Journal Title: IOSR Journal of Pharmacy (IOSRPHR) - Year 2014, Vol 4, Issue 8
Abstract
[b] Objective: [/b]To report alopecia universalis (AU) as an adverse effect of adalimumab that has not yet been documented in literature. [b]Case Summary: [/b]A 50-year-old male was diagnosed with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and was commenced on adalimumab subcutaneous injections biweekly. The psoriatic skin lesions and arthritis showed improvement. However, one year later he lost all his body hair including pubic hair. Trichoscopy confirmed AU. Adalimumab was believed to have caused this adverse drug reaction (ADR). He was switched to etanercept with a good response (psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis). However he had no evidence of hair regrowth six months after change of therapy. [b]Discussion: [/b]The exact pathogenesis of adalimumab causing hair loss is poorly understood. The patient’s history of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis conferred an autoimmune diathesis. Adalimumab with its immunomodulatory properties might have been the potential trigger for the development of AU with a sustained or even a permanent injury to the hair follicle as evidenced by absence of hair regrowth at 6-month follow up. Our patient scored a 7 on the Naranjo scale, which signifies that an ADR is the probable cause of AU. [b]Conclusion:[/b] This case highlights that AU is a probable ADR of adalimumab. Further studies are needed to assess the duration and reversibility of hair loss. Patients should be promptly educated regarding its occurrence prior to commencement of therapy in order to minimize any associated psychological impact.
Authors and Affiliations
Pooja Kadam , Prashant Kaushik
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP116229
- DOI -
- Views 73
- Downloads 0
Clinical Significance of 99mTc-MDP Imaging & Molecular Biology in the Diagnosis of Bone Metastases
Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer death among women. Skeletal metastases are clinically significant because of associated symptoms, complications such as pathological fractures and their profound significance fo...
The Preventive Effects of N-Acetylcysteine on Tacrolimus Induced Nephrotoxicity
Tacrolimus exhibits its nephrotoxic effect in relation to its inhibition of one of the antioxidant enzymes named catalase. Glutathione peroxidase catalysesa similar reaction done by catalase. The factor which increases G...
Child Health Care Practices among the Tribes of Visakhapatnam District
.
Development and validation of GC-MS method for analysis of chloropyramine hydrochloride in ointments
A simple, rapid, sensitive, specific, accurate, and reproducible method for the determination of chloropyramine hydrochloride in ointments based on gas chromatography – mass spectrometry detection was develop...
Smoking And Thiocyanates In High School Students, University Students And Children With Hypertension
To objectify smoking and its connection with various diseases and conditions are used analytical markers. The aim of our study was to estimate smoking and its intensity by determination of thiocyanates in blood s...