Sustained Remission of Alopecia Areata Universalis following Red Cell Transfusion

Abstract

Alopecia areata (AA) is an immune mediated, non-scarring hair loss disorder. Despite recent advances in therapy with Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, an unmet need for additional therapies exists, particularly for more extensive disease such as alopecia areata totalis (AAT) and universalis (AAU). We present a case of a patient with long-standing AAU achieving near-complete, sustained hair regrowth following leukodepleted red cell concentrate transfusion. An 85-year-old attended our service in 2020 with a twenty-nine-year history of AA, having previously been treated with topical corticosteroids, intralesional corticosteroids, topical minoxidil, and psoralen-ultraviolet A (PUVA) phototherapy...