Irreversible Alopecia Universalis During Treatment With Pegylated Interferon-Ribavirin for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Case Report and Literature Review

The document describes a unique case of irreversible alopecia universalis in a 46-year-old male patient treated with pegylated interferon-ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C, marking the first known instance of permanent hair loss associated with this therapy. Despite stopping the antiviral treatment and attempting hair regrowth interventions, the patient did not experience hair recovery even after 24 months. This case highlights the need for physicians to inform patients about the risk of permanent alopecia as a side effect of hepatitis C treatment. Additionally, the document reviews existing literature, indicating that while alopecia is a frequent side effect in about 33% of patients on this treatment, irreversible alopecia had not been reported before.