Hair loss from CGRP Monoclonal Antibodies — Donovan Hair Clinic

New examine identifies hair loss in 2 % of sufferers utilizing CGRP monocloncal antibodies

Introduction

Evers et al, 2023

Authors from Germany described 6 sufferers out of 279 sufferers handled  monoclonal CGRP antibodies over a 3 12 months interval. That equates to 2.2 %

All sufferers had been feminine sufferers with power migraine. Ages of sufferers ranged from 40-62 years. Hair loss attributable to iron deficiency and thyroid issues was dominated out.  All sufferers began with erenumab. 5 of the sufferers had extreme shedding and 1 affected person developed a visual hair loss (slightly than a shedding).

The hair loss began between 1 and 4 weeks after beginning remedy with the monoclonal CGRP antibody. All sufferers switched to a different monoclonal CGRP antibody. In 4 of those sufferers, the effluvium stopped fully! Within the different two sufferers’ alopecia or effluvium additionally occurred with the second monoclonal CGRP antibody. Of those two sufferers, one stopped remedy with monoclonal CGRP antibodies and one switched to a 3rd monoclonal CGRP antibody after which effluvium lastly stopped.

Dialogue

It is a useful paper which places hair loss at round 2-3 % of sufferers handled with erenumab. This drug was FDA permitted in 2018 and is marketed in lots of counties as Aimovig. It was the primary CGRP monoclonal antibody to be permitted.

This examine teaches us that it’s price making a swap to a different anti-CGRP kind remedy if shedding is troublesome or hair loss has occurred. In lots of sufferers, this swap is predicted to resolve the hair loss challenge. If not, one other swap is price it!

REFERENCE

Evers S and Wald S. Effluvium and alopecia related to monoclonal calcitonin gene-related peptide antibody use. Headache. 2023 Jan;63(1):165-167.