Linagliptin-Associated Alopecia and Bullous Pemphigoid

Authors

• Ali Someili Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
• Mohannad Abu Hilal Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
• Khalid Azzam Department of Dermatology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

ali.someili@medportal.ca

Keywords

Abstract

Bullous pemphigoid is a chronic autoimmune blistering disease. Recently, several reports suggested dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, also known as gliptins, were a potential cause of drug-induced bullous pemphigoid but not of both bullous pemphigoid and alopecia areata together. Here we describe the case of a 68-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus who developed new onset diffuse alopecia on the scalp with diffuse tense bullae over his body a few months after linagliptin was introduced for better control of his diabetes.
DPP-4 inhibitors are not known to increase the risk of alopecia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of linagliptin-associated alopecia areata and bullous pemphigoid, which may help demonstrate if there are any links between DPP-4 inhibitors and alopecia.