Alopecia Universalis as the First Clue to Sjögren’s Disease: A Case of Complete Reversible Alopecia

Huda Allaham⁽¹⁾, Denisa Predeteanu⁽²⁾, Constantin-Ioan Busuioc⁽³⁾, Anca Ursu⁽⁴⁾, Narcis Copca⁽⁵⁾, Madalina-Pusa Rosu^(2,*)

1) Department of Internal Medicine, “Th. Burghele” Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
2) Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, “Sf. Maria” Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
3) Department of Pathology, "Sf. Maria" Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
4) Department of Dermatology, “Sf. Maria” Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
5) Department of Surgery, “Sf. Maria” Clinica; Hospital. Department of Research Center University of Medicine “Carol Davila”, Bucharest, Romania

Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by non-scarring hair loss and a highly variable clinical course. Increasing evidence suggests an association between AA and systemic autoimmune diseases, although its occurrence in Sjögren’s disease (SjD) remains uncommon and poorly characterized.
We report the case of a 36-year-old woman who presented with progressive generalized alopecia and sicca symptoms with minor salivary gland biopsy that confirmed SjD. Treatment with hydroxychloroquine and a low dose of systemic corticosteroids resulted in complete hair regrowth.
This case highlights the importance of considering underlying systemic autoimmune disease in patients with severe or atypical alopecia and demonstrates that appropriate immunomodulatory therapy can lead to full reversibility of hair loss

Keywords: alopecia areata; alopecia universalis; Sjögren’s disease; autoimmune diseases; hydroxychloroquine

Corresponding author(s): Madalina Pusa Rosu, Department of Rheumatology, "Sfanta Maria" Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, email: madalina.duna@yahoo.com