title: Recurring chemotherapy-associated alopecia areata: case report and literature review.
abstract: A 52-year-old woman with stage IIIC ovarian cancer and stage IA uterine cancer experienced recurring alopecia areata of her eyebrows, eyelashes, arms, legs, and pubic area beginning 5 months after completing chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin. The condition recurred in a cyclic fashion over the ensuing months. Alopecia is a well-recognized adverse event associated with chemotherapy; however, to our knowledge, this cyclic pattern of alopecia has not been reported in a patient with cancer. Our report of a cancer survivor who experienced cyclic alopecia areata indicates that this condition may be related to autoimmune changes instigated by chemotherapy. Oncology health care practitioners should evaluate unusual clinical cases of alopecia for underlying pathology.
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Drug Information Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA. smotl@utmem.edu
authors.forename: Susannah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Motl
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fausel
mesh_terms: D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel