Alopecia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Alopecia, including details on hair loss, baldness, treatment, causes, prevention.

Recurrence of alopecia areata in a patient receiving etanercept injections.

Posten W, Swan J

Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.

BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata is a common condition of patchy hair loss that has been postulated to have an autoimmune pathogenesis involving inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha. Etanercept is a novel medication that blocks TNF-alpha-mediated processes. We report a case involving the recurrence of alopecia areata in a patient receiving etanercept. OBSERVATIONS: We describe a 49-year-old man with a history of rheumatoid arthritis and alopecia areata who developed a recurrence of his alopecia areata while being treated with etanercept for more than 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: The anti-TNF-alpha effect of etanercept therapy may not be sufficient to prevent the recurrence of alopecia areata. The possible role of TNF-alpha in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata may be called into question if our observation is repeated.

Published 21 June 2005 in Arch Dermatol, 141(6): 759-60.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Alopecia Research Today. All Rights Reserved.