Thionamide-Responsive Alopecia Areata in an 11-Year-Old Girl

An 11-year-old girl with alopecia areata and autoimmune hyperthyroidism (Graves’ disease) showed significant improvement in hair regrowth after six months of treatment with carbimazole, an antithyroid medication. The girl's initial symptoms included patchy hair loss, weight loss, palpitations, and increased bowel frequency. Her thyroid profile indicated hyperthyroidism, with elevated thyrotropin receptor antibodies and thyroid peroxidase antibodies. The treatment led to a notable reduction in these antibody levels and improvement in alopecia without the use of topical agents. This case highlights the potential of thionamide drugs like carbimazole to have immunosuppressive effects, which can be beneficial in treating autoimmune disorders such as alopecia areata.