Azathioprine-induced alopecia: a rare adverse event, early marker of myelotoxicity

Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 2022 Jan;114(1):63-64. doi: 10.17235/reed.2021.8175/2021.

Abstract

Though not exempt from adverse events, azathioprine (AZA) is an inexpensive and effective drug in the induction and maintenance treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. We present the case of a 20-year-old female patient with left-side ulcerative colitis in whom AZA was started at a dose of 1.5 mg/kg/day due to dependence on corticoids (thiopurine methyltransferase activity: 14.9 U/mL). Two weeks after starting treatment she began to report excessive hair loss, resulting in an almost complete loss of scalp hair.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alopecia / chemically induced
  • Alopecia / drug therapy
  • Azathioprine / adverse effects
  • Biomarkers
  • Colitis, Ulcerative* / chemically induced
  • Colitis, Ulcerative* / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* / drug therapy
  • Mercaptopurine / therapeutic use
  • Methyltransferases / adverse effects
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Mercaptopurine
  • Methyltransferases
  • Azathioprine