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Background: Telogen effluvium (TE) is the most common cause of alopecia in women. Treatment should address the etiological factors and may include adjuvant therapies. In practice, physicians may employ modified approaches and utilize various combinations of topical and oral molecules. Aims: In this real-life observational study, the aim was to evaluate the response of TE to iron supplementation. Materials and Methods: The population consisted of all patients who sought consultation for TE at our dermatology department between March 2021 and February 2022. Eligible participants were women, aged between 18 and 65, having a clinical diagnosis of TE, and intended for treatment with iron supplementation. Exclusion criteria comprised current pregnancy, chronic or active inflammatory disease, newly discovered dysthyroidism, concurrent use of hair supplements, topical minoxidil, or any other medications. The response was assessed based on the patient's level of satisfaction, a significant indicator, given the substantial psychological impact of TE on women's daily lives. Results: The analysis included 200 women. The average age was 32.9 ± 11.4 years. A recent history of COVID-19 or treated dysthyroidism was present in 18.5% and 8% of patients, respectively, but did not impact their response. Significantly, patients with baseline ferritin ≥50 ng/ml were mostly "very satisfied", those with baseline ferritin <50 ng/ml were mostly "not satisfied", and those with unknown levels were mostly "partially satisfied" with iron supplementation. A high dose of elemental iron and a prolonged duration of treatment significantly improved the patients' level of satisfaction. Conclusion: Iron supplementation can improve the patient's level of satisfaction in TE even if serum ferritin is not low.
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EGFR inhibitors used in the treatment of metastatic wild-RAS colorectal cancer in combination with chemotherapy are associated with dermatologic side events that are low grade in most cases. We report a case of severe cutaneous toxicity secondary to cetuximab associated with bacterial cellulitis. A 57-year-old woman with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the colon, receiving FOLFIRI and Cetuximab as a first-line treatment, presented with a severe erythematous rash and xerosis resistant to local treatment with moisturizing emollients. Few days later, the patient becomes febrile, and the rash becomes more diffuse with a sandpaper appearance on the face, neck, chest, and flexor creases with exfoliation of large areas of skin. A bacterial cellulitis secondary to a dermatologic severe toxicity of Cetuximab was suspected. The patient started on antibiotics and local treatment with good response. This is a life-threatening cutaneous toxicity of cetuximab with secondary bacterial infection. Early recognition of cutaneous side effects of EGFR inhibitors is important to prevent such type of toxicities.
