CASE REPORT - Development of alopecia areata universalis in a patient receiving Humira

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Archives of Dermatology

Vol. 142 No. 12, December 2006

Correspondence

VIGNETTES

Development of Alopecia Areata Universalis in a Patient Receiving

Adalimumab

Alopecia areata (AA) is characterized by nonscarring patchy hair loss

on the scalp that can progress to involve the entire scalp (AA totalis) and

eventually the entire body (AA universalis). Increasing evidence indicates

that multiple cytokines-such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) , interleukin-1,

and interferon--might be relevant to the autoimmune pathogenesis of AA

because peribulbar inflammation is believed to inhibit hair growth by the

actions of inflammatory cytokines.1 Novel biologic therapies that block

TNF--mediated processes are used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases,

including AA.2 Adalimumab, a human monoclonal TNF- antibody, is administered

by subcutaneous injection for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Owing

to the suspected involvement of TNF- in the pathogenesis of AA, one might

expect adalimumab therapy to be beneficial for patients with AA. We describe

a patient who developed rapidly progressive AA universalis during treatment

with adalimumab for rheumatoid arthritis.

http://archderm.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/142/12/1654?rss=1

Not an MD