Dupilumab therapy rapidly improved alopecia areata associated with trichotillomania in an atopic dermatitis patient

Dear Editor, Alopecia can occur as a serious complication of atopic dermatitis (AD). Dupilumab, an interleukin (IL)-4 receptor subunit alpha antagonist that down regulates T-helper 2 responses, has recently been approved as a treatment for AD. It has subsequently been reported that dupilumab amelior...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Allergology International 2020-07, Vol.69 (3), p.480-482
Main Authors: Manaka Ushida, Akifumi Ohshita, Yukiyasu Arakawa, Fuminao Kanehisa, Norito Katoh, Jun Asai
Format: Article
Language:Japanese
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Summary:Dear Editor, Alopecia can occur as a serious complication of atopic dermatitis (AD). Dupilumab, an interleukin (IL)-4 receptor subunit alpha antagonist that down regulates T-helper 2 responses, has recently been approved as a treatment for AD. It has subsequently been reported that dupilumab ameliorated alopecia areata (AA) in AD patients in a number of cases. However, in AD patients hair loss can be caused by trichotillomania as well as AA. Here, we report a case in which AA complicated with trichotillomania in an AD patient was rapidly ameliorated by dupilumab. A 33-year-old female presented with severe AD. A physical examination revealed erythema, scaling and lichenification over her entire body (Eczema Area and Severity Index [EASI] score: 46) and multiple alopecia patches on her scalp, which had first appeared 6 months prior to her visit.
ISSN:1323-8930