Skip Navigation
Menu
Letters |15 July 1996

Alopecia Associated with Fluconazole Therapy

Lowell A. Goldsmith, MD

Article, Author, and Disclosure Information
Author, Article, and Disclosure Information
  • University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry Rochester, NY 14642
×
FULL TEXT
TO THE EDITOR:
I read with interest the recent report on reversible alopecia related to fluconazole therapy [1]. Hair shaft and hair sheath structures were not described in the report. After systemic illness, a precipitation of the telogen (resting) phase of the hair cycle often causes hair loss. Alopecia also occurs after fasting, after pregnancy, with hypothyroidism, and with iron deficiency [2]. Telogen hairs can be easily recognized on a hair pull, and the diagnosis can be confirmed by scalp biopsy. Anagen effluvium follows chemotherapy or irradiation, both of which affect the rapidly proliferating cells of the hair matrix. Such hairs can be recognized by their necrotic root sheaths or constricted hair shafts [3]. Constrictions (Pohl-Pinkus marks) analogous to Beau lines in the nails occasionally appear in such hairs because of temporarily decreased growth. Vitamin A and its analogues cause dystrophic anagen hairs that can progress to a usually reversible form of hair loss.
FULL TEXT
PDF
Not Available
Citations
Citation

Goldsmith LA. Alopecia Associated with Fluconazole Therapy. Ann Intern Med. ;125:153. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-125-2-199607150-00020

Download citation file:

© 2019

×
Permissions

Published: Ann Intern Med. 1996;125(2):153.

DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-125-2-199607150-00020

3 Citations
CONTINUE WITH LIMITED ACCESS
Annals of Internal Medicine
To receive access to the full text of freely available articles, alerts, and more. You will be directed to acponline.org to complete your registration.
×
acp link acp
silverchair link silverchair

Copyright © 2019 American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.

Print ISSN: 0003-4819 | Online ISSN: 1539-3704

Privacy Policy

|

Conditions of Use

This site uses cookies. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our privacy policy. | Accept
×

You need a subscription to this content to use this feature.

×
PDF Downloads Require Access to the Full Article.
Annals of Internal Medicine
To receive access to the full text of freely available articles, alerts, and more. You will be directed to acponline.org to complete your registration.
×
Access to this Free Content Requires Users to be Registered and Logged In. Please Choose One of the Following Options
Annals of Internal Medicine
To receive access to the full text of freely available articles, alerts, and more. You will be directed to acponline.org to complete your registration.
×