Mr. Nasca et al., TRANSIENT LEUKODERMA APPEARING IN AN UNTREATED AREA FOLLOWING CONTACTIMMUNOTHERAPY FOR ALOPECIA-AREATA, EJD. European journal of dermatology, 8(2), 1998, pp. 125-126
One of the possible unwanted side effects following contact immunother
apy of alopecia areata is skin hypopigmentation, either in the form of
a transient, post-inflammatory hypopigmentation or as the development
of a persistent, depigmented patch. A case of leucoderma occurring on
the forehead of a 16 year-old girl following application of squaric a
cid dibutylester to the scalp for the treatment of alopecia areata is
described. Past medical and family history were negative for vitiligo
and autoimmune disorders. The hypopigmented patch was distant from the
scalp area where squaric acid dibutylester had been applied, and it w
as not preceded by any sign of eczema, erythema or itch in the same ar
ea. Moreover, it faded as soon as treatment was discontinued. A 4-year
follow-up revealed no evidence of vitiligo. In conclusion, the possib
le occurrence df a transient leucoderma in untreated areas should be i
ncluded among the side effects of contact immunotherapy of alopecia ar
eata with squaric acid dibutylester.