Alopecia in autoimmune hepatitis: Association with zinc deficiency

Abstract

The aim this report is to describe three cases of alopecia in patients with autoimmune hepatitis and correlate this with possible etiologies. The three patients presented alopecia associated with autoimmune hepatitis and zinc deficiency. In two cases the alopecia was not a side effect of the treatment with azathioprine. Although alopecia may be an autoimmune disease in its own right, the need for zinc supplementation in patients with autoimmune hepatitis or other chronic hepatic diseases must be evaluated.