A Case of Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia in a Patient with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Skin Appendage Disord. 2016 Sep;2(1-2):79-82. doi: 10.1159/000447493. Epub 2016 Sep 10.

Abstract

Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is a form of scarring hair loss that is characterized by hair follicle destruction in a fronto-temporo-parietal distribution. Its etiology is unknown; however, most authors presently favor an immune pathogenesis. Associated autoimmune connective tissue diseases have been reported in patients with FFA. We present a case of FFA in a woman with primary biliary cirrhosis and polymyalgia rheumatica, suggesting an association between these clinical entities and supporting a potential autoimmune etiology of FFA.

Keywords: Alopecia; Frontal fibrosing alopecia; Hair disorder; Hair loss; Immune-mediated disease; Lichen planopilaris; Polymyalgia rheumatica; Primary biliary cirrhosis.