Article Text
Abstract
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors, in the form of injectable monoclonal antibodies, are a newer class of drugs for the prevention of migraine headaches. In clinical trials, they have been found to be effective with good tolerance and few adverse effects. Alopecia has been increasingly noted as a post-marketing event associated with CGRP inhibitor injectables. Of the case reports available on this topic, alopecia has commonly been localised to the scalp and associated with erenumab use; however, not as much has been reported for fremanezumab nor for injection site-related alopecia. We report an occurrence of persistent lower extremity localised injection site alopecia in a patient within our headache clinic who used fremanezumab. The possible mechanism of alopecia may be related to the failure of hair follicle immune privilege in the absence of CGRP immunomodulatory effects.
- Contraindications and precautions
- Neurology (drugs and medicines)
- Headache (including migraines)
- Unwanted effects / adverse reactions
- Dermatology
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Footnotes
Contributors The following authors were responsible for drafting of the text, sourcing and editing of clinical images, investigation results, drawing original diagrams and algorithms, and critical revision for important intellectual content: ME and ER. The following author gave final approval of the manuscript: ER.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.
Competing interests Emily Rubenstein Engel, MD, FAHS, FAAN serves on a speakers bureau for AbbVie Inc.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.