Alopecia areata associated with myasthenia gravis and thymoma: a case of alopecia with marked improvement following thymectomy and high level prednisolone administration.

A 57-year-old Japanese woman who suffered from alopecia areata associated with myasthenia gravis (MG) and thymoma responded well to thymectomy and high doses of glucocorticosteroid administration. Several treatments for alopecia areata including administration of systemic prednisolone were attempted, but loss of hair on the scalp progressed. After thymectomy and high level glucocorticosteroid administration for MG, the lesions on the scalp improved within four weeks. Consequently, we suggest that this thymectomy and high level glucocorticosteroid administration assisted in improving the immune dysfunction causing the alopecic lesions in this patient.