Successful treatment of rare linear lichen planopilaris with Ixekizumab

Background

Lichen planopilaris (LPP) is a lymphocytic primary cicatricial alopecia characterized by perifollicular erythema, follicular hyperkeratosis and scaring, resulting in permanent hair loss. Current treatment modalities, both topical and systemic, fail to achieve satisfactory and consistent results. As therapies fail to halt the inflammatory process, patients with LPP may face long-term disfigurement and significant psychological burden.

Purpose

To initiate an efficacious targeted therapy with good tolerability and low side effect profile that will allow hair regrowth and prevent the development to disfiguring alopecia.

Materials and methods

Here, we report on a case of rare LPP in a linear distribution (LLPP) involving the scalp and forehead failing to achieve satisfactory results with continued hair loss with multiple previous treatments.

Results

Complete hair regrowth was achieved 12 weeks after treatment with an anti-psoriatic, anti-interleukin (IL)-17A/F antibody (Taltz, Ixekizumab, Lilly). Patient continued to display sustained efficacy with no reported side effects until 12 months on treatment.

Conclusions

The present case underlines the viability of Ixekizumab as a possible first-line, targeted therapy for LPP and its variants with sustained efficacy. Multicenter trials are warranted to confirm the benefit of Ixekizumab as a successful targeted biologic treatment option for LPP and LLPP.

Other Information

Published in: Journal of Dermatological Treatment
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
See article on publisher's website: https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09546634.2023.2201364