Alopecia Universalis: Hair Growth following Initiation of Simvastatin and Ezetimibe Therapy
September 2007 | Volume 6 | Issue 9 | Case Reports | 946 | Copyright © September 2007
Douglas N. Robins MD
Abstract
Alopecia areata is an organ specific autoimmune disease in which hair is lost in various patterns. Its most extreme form,
alopecia universalis, is the total loss of all scalp and body hair. This form of the condition is very resistant to treatment
and spontaneous remission is quite rare. The following is a case of a 54-year-old male with longstanding alopecia universalis
who began to grow dense hair on his scalp as well as patchy hair growth on his face, pubic and axillary areas one month
after starting a course of simvastatin 40 mg and ezetimibe 10 mg daily prescribed for his hyperlipidemia. For 2 years prior
to starting the combination drug, he had taken simvastatin 40 mg alone without evidence of any hair growth. The combination
of simvastatin and ezetimibe has previously demonstrated synergistic immunomodulatory effects, which most likely
accounts for the clinical response in this case.