Paper
DRUG‐ASSOCIATED ALOPECIA
Published Mar 1, 1995 · PETER J. Pillans, D. Woods
International Journal of Dermatology
68
Citations
2
Influential Citations
Abstract
Drug-induced hair loss typically presents as a diffuse nonscarring reversihie alopecia most commonly involving the scalp, appears to affect women more often than men, and is usually unaccompanied hy other symptoms. A numher of drugs may interfere with the hair cycle and produce hair loss, either hy inducing an abrupt cessation of mitotic activity (anagen effluvium), or by precipitating the follicles into premature rest (telogen effluvium). While the alopecia is typically reversible, the severity and prevalence depend on the drug as well as on individual predisposition. Anagen effluvium is a prominent adverse effect of antineoplastic agents. Drugs associated with telogen effluvium, where there is reasonable documentation to suggest a causal relationship are reviewed. Some more recently marketed medicines have been added, whereas a number that had been included in previous lists of drug-induced alopecia, but for which there is limited evidence, are not discussed. The diagnosis involves the same approach as the evaluation of any suspected drug reaction and cognizance should be taken of numerous potential confounding causes of alopecia. Causality assessment and the potential value and limitations of databases for adverse reactions are briefly discussed. Alopecia, a distressing side effect of drug therapy, has been reviewed repeatedly.'"'' The hair loss typically presents as a diffuse reversible alopecia of the scalp, unaccompanied by other symptoms. A knowledge of the dynamics of normal hair growth helps our understanding of the alopecia, although the explanation for the sporadic occurrence with many medicines is often elusive. Despite the substantial number of reports of drug-induced alopecia in the literature, not infrequently is there a questionable causal relationship hecause of inadequate documentation and confounding factors.
Drug-induced alopecia is a common, reversible side effect of drug therapy, with severity and prevalence depending on the drug and individual predisposition.
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