Chronic inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy associated with alopecia universalis.

We report a patient with concurrent chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) and alopecia universalis. A dramatic improvement in strength accompanied the administration of prednisone, although no regrowth of hair was noted. CIDP and alopecia universalis are two relatively rare autoimmune disorders. The simultaneous occurrence of these disorders suggests a common pathogenetic mechanism, including the possibility of shared antigens between peripheral nerve myelin and the hair follicle.