Alopecia areata secondary to the use of leflunomide in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a case report and literature review

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, highly disabling autoimmune disease that requires aggressive pharmacological treatment using immunomodulatory drugs grouped under the name of Disease-Modifying Anti-rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs). Leflunomide is one of the most frequently prescribed. This drug, through its mechanism of action is able to suppress key factors in the disease process. However, its use is not without side effects. While there are series that report that the most prevalent adverse effects are diarrhea, nausea, rash and alopecia, there are few reported cases of alopecia universalis secondary to the use of leflunomide. We present a case in the Regional Hospital of Talca and a review of the use of leflunomide.