Examination of Clinical and Demographic Characteristics of 14 Cases with Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia

Abstract

Objective: Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is a rare type of cicatricial alopecia seen in postmenopausal women characterized with band-type frontal/frontotemporal hair traction and/or significant or complete loss of the eyebrows. We aimed to present the demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics of female patients diagnosed and followed-up with FFA in our clinic by comparing these with the literature data. Method: A total of 14 patients who admitted to our outpatient clinic with alopecia on the frontotemporal/frontal hairline and were clinically and/or histopathologically diagnosed with FFA between 2011 and 2016 were evaluated in a retrospective manner. The patients were reviewed in terms of the age of lesion onset, localization, accompanying symptom or disease, and treatment options. Results: The ages of the patients who were followed-up in our outpatient clinic with FFA were between 52 and 73 (mean 2 years). Eight patients (57%) had total eyebrow loss,. Laboratory tests were in normal limits or negative. Comorbidities included thyroid disease, hypertension and coronary artery disease diabetes mellitus. For treatment, all patients were given systemic, intralesional and topical steroid, and topical minoxidil at various times. Four patients received hydroxychloroquine, 2 patients acitretin, 2 patients Vitamin E, 1 patient itraconazole, and 1 patient topical tacrolimus. Conclusion: FFA should be considered in middle aged and elderly postmenopausal women presenting with hair loss complaints and were detected to have frontal hairline traction and cicatricial alopecia, and the diagnosis should be supported by biopsy. Thereby, the disease progression may be prevented or delayed with early diagnosis and proper treatment..