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https://doi.org/10.4081/dr.2026.10802

New-onset alopecia areata during calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibitor therapy: first reported case

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Published: 24 August 2026
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Alopecia areata, hair disease, calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibitors

Authors

Luca Valtellini
Dermatology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan; Pathophysiology and Transplantation Department, University of Milan, Italy.
Mauro Barbareschi
Pathophysiology and Transplantation Department, University of Milan, Italy.
Silvia Mariel Ferrucci
Dermatology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Angelo Valerio Marzano
Dermatology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan; Pathophysiology and Transplantation Department, University of Milan, Italy.
Andrea Sechi
andrea.sechi@policlinico.mi.it
Dermatology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.

Dear Editor,

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a neuropeptide with potent vasodilatory effects and a key role in trigeminovascular signaling, underlying the pathogenesis of migraine. Consequently, the inhibition of CGRP activity has been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of acute migraine attacks. Based on this evidence, monoclonal antibodies against CGRP or its receptor have been approved by the European Medicines Agency for prevention of both episodic and chronic migraine. Among CGRP inhibitors, galcanezumab has also been authorized for the treatment of episodic cluster headache. Since the advent of CGRP inhibitors, several cases of drug-induced telogen effluvium have been reported, with incidence rates ranging from 1.10% to 7.23%. However, to the best of our knowledge, alopecia areata (AA) associated with CGRP inhibition remains undescribed in the literature. [...]

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Citations

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3. Harada N, Okajima K, Arai M, et al. Administration of capsaicin and isoflavone promotes hair growth by increasing insulin-like growth factor-I production in mice and in humans with alopecia. Growth Horm IGF Res 2007;17:408-15.
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5. Meyronet D, Jaber K, Gentil-Perret A, et al. Decreased CGRP staining in alopecia areata. Br J Dermatol 2003;149:422-4.

How to Cite



1.
Valtellini L, Barbareschi M, Ferrucci SM, Marzano AV, Sechi A. New-onset alopecia areata during calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibitor therapy: first reported case. Dermatol Reports [Internet]. 2026 Aug. 24 [cited 2026 Sep. 4];. Available from: https://journals.pagepress.net/dr/article/view/10802
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