Alopecia areata during etanercept therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To report a case of alopecia areata occurring during anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy.


METHODS
Observational case report.


RESULTS
The authors describe a 44-year-old man with ankylosing spondylitis who developed 6 months of patchy hair loss consistent with alopecia areata while undergoing treatment with etanercept.


CONCLUSIONS
Although anti-TNF agents are expected to impede autoimmune-related processes such as alopecia areata, these drugs have been found to be causally related to the development of alopecia areata. Ophthalmologists who are increasing involved in using these biologic agents should be aware of possible side effects.
Doheny Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA.
Ying
Y
Pan
Narsing A
NA
Rao
D000328:Adult; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000068800:Etanercept