Drug induced alopecia in Malaysia from 2010 to 2015

Drug-induced alopecia studies in Malaysia are limited but todays the impact of alopecia to the human is huge as it can affect their quality of life. The number of cases reported of drug-induced alopecia is kept increasing and preventive action should be done in order to control this ADR's from worsening. To study drugs that induced alopecia in Malaysia from the year 2010 to 2015. Besides that, the specific objectives are to determine the number of patient reported having drug that induced alopecia from 2010 till 2015. In addition, this study aims to determine the types of drugs that commonly induced alopecia and to study the association I relationship (drugs and other variables) with alopecia. Data of ADR's involving alopecia was collected at Pharmacovigilance Section, National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agent (NPRA). There are 440 reported cases documented on drug-induced alopecia from the year 2010 to 2015 were extracted from MADRAC Quest 2 and Quest 3+ database system. Based on the results, the most drug that induced alopecia in those 6 years which is 2010 to 2015 are the anti-cancer drug which shown that female is more likely to get alopecia with 81 cases; 57.9% reported from 138 cases and Malay is at highest risk with 42.1 %. An aged patient with age range from 46 to 60 years old (n=53, 37.9%) were highest number of patient reported on drug inducing alopecia. Selangor was reported with the most cases reported on ADR's which 22.9% of 32 cases been reported. 2012 has the highest number of reported cases which is 90 cases while 2013 has highest number of selected cases which is 36 cases. Extend of severity liver toxicity is moderate which 58 cases reported from 107 cases with probable causality with 30.7%. There is an association between races with an extent of a severity of alopecia when the P value is 0.0043. The race is the only predictor for an anti-cancer drug which induced alopecia when it showed Malay is at high risk to get adverse drug reaction related to drug caused alopecia. Anti-cancer drug such as Sorafenib and Erlotinib was the most common drug that induced alopecia in Malaysia based on cases of ADR'S reported from 2010 to 2015. To avoid this problem, healthcare practitioner should monitor the therapy given to the patients and control the dose, duration/schedule, frequency of the treatment.