CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY POLYRADICULONEUROPATHY ASSOCIATED WITH ALOPECIA UNIVERSALIS

We report a patient with concurrent chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) and alopecia universalis. A dramatic im provement in strength accompanied the administration of prednisone, al though no regrowth of hair was noted. CIDP and alopecia universalis ar e two relatively rare autoimmune disorders. The simultaneous occurrenc e of these disorders suggests a common pathogenetic mechanism, includi ng the possibility of shared antigens between peripheral nerve myelin and the hair follicle. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.