Anti-liver-kidney microsome antibody-positive autoimmune hepatitis associated with alopecia

Tacrolimus in Dermatology

Background:

Tacrolimus (FK 506), a metabolite of the fungus Streptomyces tsukubaensis, is an anti-T-cell drug. It acts by inhibiting the production of IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, TNFα, and GM-CSF. More potent and with slightly less secondary effects than cyclosporine, it has been the object of considerable interest, especially in conditions that could benefit from the latter.

Objective:

In psoriasis, a placebo-controlled double-blind study has shown oral tacrolimus at 0.1 mg/kg/day to be effective in controlling recalcitrant lesions. In human, small studies have reported tacrolimus ointment to be effective in controlling acute contact dermatitis. Short-term trials of topical tacrolimus in the treatment of atopic dermatitis have recently shown excellent results in both adults and children. In animal studies of hair growth disorders, topical tacrolimus induces anagen and protects from chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Animal studies with the ointment for the prevention of skin graft rejection, lupus dermatoses, and skin papilloma formation have also shown to be promising.

Conclusions:

There are case reports of pyoderma gangrenosum, Sezary's syndrome, and Behçet's disease successfully treated with oral tacrolimus but, because of their small number, they remain anecdotal at this point.

Coeliac disease and alopecia areata in childhood

Coeliac disease is a genetic, immunologically mediated small bowel enteropathy that causes malabsorption. The immune inflammatory response to gluten frequently causes damage to many other tissues of the body. We report the association of coeliac disease and alopecia areata in two children, a 13-year-old girl and a 29-month-old girl. Both of our patients had immunoglobulin A (IgA) class endomysial antibodies, IgA and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antigliadin antibodies and subtotal villous atrophy on jejunal biopsy. Administration of a gluten-free diet to our patients resulted in complete hair growth and improved the gastrointestinal symptoms.

Alopecia universalis with remission during pregnancy and prednisolone therapy

In a 32-year-old woman, alopecia universalis went into unequivocal remission during pregnancy and prednisolone therapy. A skin biopsy specimen showed intense infiltration of the lymphocyte around the hair follicle without immunoglobulin and complement deposition. Autoantibody test results were negative except for the antithyroid and anti-nuclear antibodies. Human leukocyte antigen haplotypes common in Japanese patients with insulin-dependent diabetes were found in this patient. However, thyroid function and glucose tolerance were normal, and other clinical evidence of collagen vascular disorders was not found. In this patient, alopecia was considered to have been caused by autoimmune abnormalities. This is the first documentation of remission of autoimmune alopecia universalis during pregnancy.