Transient hair loss during treatment with dimethyl-fumarate for multiple sclerosis

Introduction Dimethyl-fumarate is a recently approved drug for relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis in Italy. Clinical case A 55-year-old woman started therapy with dimethyl-fumarate on June 2014; it was well-tolerated aside from moderate flushing. Starting September 2014 she noticed a progressive hair loss, that neither the dermatological examination nor clinical and medical history nor blood investigations could explain. The hair loss slowed down after two months and was followed by a hair growth back. Discussion Transient hair loss is not a reported side effect of dimethyl-fumarate therapy but by excluding any known cause we attributed it to the beginning of the new therapy.