CRONKHITE-CANADA-SYNDROME - REPORT OF 2 CASES, BIOPSY FINDINGS IN THEASSOCIATED ALOPECIA, AND A NEW TREATMENT OPTION

Two patients with Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) are reported, both o f whom had diffuse alopecia, nail and skin changes, gastrointestinal p olyposis, diarrhea, and wasting. A scalp biopsy was performed in one p atient, and the specimen showed a marked noninflammatory loss of folli cular units, miniaturization of the hair shafts, markedly dilated foll icles, and a heavy deposition of glycosaminoglycans in the reticular d ermis. This patient responded to prednisone therapy. The other patient was found to have elevated gastric acid levels and responded to ranit idine therapy. The conditions of both patients are now in remission tw o and six years later, respectively. Our patients have Shown a tempora lly related remission of disease during treatment with prednisone and ranitidine, suggesting that each agent may be effective in CCS. Howeve r, randomized placebo-controlled trials are needed to prove the effica cy of these therapies. Further investigation of the histopathologic fe atures of the associated alopecia may determine its cause.