Alopecia universalis with remission during pregnancy and prednisolone therapy

In a 32-year-old woman, alopecia universalis went into unequivocal remission during pregnancy and prednisolone therapy. A skin biopsy specimen showed intense infiltration of the lymphocyte around the hair follicle without immunoglobulin and complement deposition. Autoantibody test results were negative except for the antithyroid and anti-nuclear antibodies. Human leukocyte antigen haplotypes common in Japanese patients with insulin-dependent diabetes were found in this patient. However, thyroid function and glucose tolerance were normal, and other clinical evidence of collagen vascular disorders was not found. In this patient, alopecia was considered to have been caused by autoimmune abnormalities. This is the first documentation of remission of autoimmune alopecia universalis during pregnancy.