Nail lichen planus in a patient with alopecia totalis

Dermatol Online J. 2014 Dec 16;20(12):13030/qt4j27v172.

Abstract

A 67-year-old man with a three-year history of non-scarring alopecia that progressed to alopecia totalis despite intralesional glucocorticoid injections is presented. He developed 20-nail dystrophy that was recalcitrant to antifungal and anti-inflammatory treatments. Biopsy of the nail matrix showed histopathologic features of lichen planus. Alopecia totalis and isolated lichen planus of the nails are uncommon subtypes of common dermatologic disorders. Rarely reported concurrently, we provide a review of the literature of their association, which is most likely attributed to their autoimmune pathogeneses.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alopecia / complications*
  • Humans
  • Lichen Planus / complications*
  • Lichen Planus / pathology
  • Male
  • Nail Diseases / complications*
  • Nail Diseases / pathology

Supplementary concepts

  • Alopecia universalis