Generalized hypertrichosis due to secukinumab in a patient with moderate psoriasis: A case of serendipity or zemblanity?

Abstract

After 4 months of therapy with secukinumab, a 67‐year‐old man with moderate psoriasis developed generalized hypertrichosis, along with PASI 90. The patient denied any drug intake, apart from secukinumab, nor applications of any creams. Moreover, this event did not really bother the patient, thus the therapy was not discontinued and the hypertrichosis is persisting as psoriasis' control.

Generalized hypertrichosis associated with the use of interleukin 17 blockers in 2 patients with psoriasis

“…9 In recent years, hypertrichosis has been reported in anecdotal cases or series cases. 1,2,10 Rongioletti et al, 2 reported on a patient with erythrodermic psoriasis who was treated with secukinumab. After 6 months of therapy, the patient noticed that his scalp hair was becoming darker over the entire scalp with a diffuse increase in hair density.…”

“…It can be congenital or acquired and localized or generalized. 1 Hypertrichosis has been associated with various prescription drugs such as corticosteroids, cyclosporine, retinoids, antibiotics, antihypertensive drugs, psoralen, phenytoin, diazoxide, minoxidil, and latanoprost. 2,3 In recent years, biological therapy seems to be associated with hypertrichosis.…”

“…2,3 In recent years, biological therapy seems to be associated with hypertrichosis. 1,4,5 Here we present 2 patients with plaque psoriasis who experienced noticeable increase in hair growth on all of their body surface during the time they were receiving interleukin (IL)-17A inhibitor therapy for plaque psoriasis.…”

Hypertrichosis and hair repigmentation in patients receiving interleukin‐17A inhibitors

“…Excess hair growth was not bothersome to the fifth and was identified in a routine visit 20 months after starting therapy 4 . Three patients developed generalized hypertrichosis most visible on the trunk and extremities 1,4 . Two had increased hair on the scalp with repigmentation of gray hair 2,3 .…”

“…All five reported patients to date were male with a median age of 62 (range 39-85) and moderate-to-severe psoriasis at baseline (Table 1). [1][2][3][4] Two patients had erythrodermic psoriasis, two had severe plaque psoriasis, and one had moderate recalcitrant psoriasis. Specific IL-17A inhibitors included secukinumab in four patients and ixekizumab in one.…”