Oska S, Bedford LM, Potts GA. Alopecia totalis following hand-foot-and-mouth disease.
Pediatr Dermatol 2021;
38:640-642. [PMID:
33650159 DOI:
10.1111/pde.14550]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We present a case of a 13-month-old male patient with alopecia totalis that began two months after an episode of hand-foot-and-mouth disease. It is hypothesized that the viral infection triggered an autoimmune response, which lead to production of lymphocytes targeting an antigen present in the hair bulb. Future research is necessary to determine whether and how the pathophysiology of alopecia totalis may be triggered by viral infection.
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