Clinical Characteristics and Factors Associated With Hair Loss Severity in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Receiving Pegylated Interferon-Alpha: A Retrospective Cohort Study

This retrospective cohort study of 78 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients experiencing hair loss found that those receiving pegylated interferon alpha (Peg-IFNα) therapy, either alone or with nucleos(t)ide analogs, had significantly more severe hair loss compared to those on nucleos(t)ide analogs alone. Specifically, telogen effluvium was more frequent in the interferon group (73.7% vs 25.0%), with more severe daily shedding (> 100 hairs/day) and shorter disease duration. Peg-IFNα therapy independently increased hair loss severity, while increasing age and male sex were protective factors. The study highlights the importance of counseling and monitoring, especially for younger female patients undergoing Peg-IFNα therapy.