Albendazole-induced anagen effluvium: a brief literature review and our own experience

Albendazole is a drug commonly used for treating many parasitoses. The primary mechanism of action is inhibition of microtubule polymerization binding to [beta]-tubulin, similar to colchicine as a microtubule formation inhibitor. It is reasonable that these two antimitotic drugs can cause side effects such as alopecia and cytopenia by a similar mechanism. In the literature, only one albendazole-induced anagen effluvium has been reported. This article presents two cases of anagen effluvium that developed 2 weeks after oral albendazole administration, summarizes all cases reported to date, and offers recommendations for a diagnostic approach. Keywords: albendazole, anagen effluvium, alopecia, drug-induced, hair loss, medication-induced, noncicatricial alopecia, parasite, side effect, toxicity