Hair loss may be distressing for a patient undergoing chemotherapy. The risk of alopecia depends on a number of factors, including which chemotherapeutic drugs are given.
Other factors affecting the risk of alopecia:
(1) number of chemotherapeutic agents
(2) duration and dose of therapy
(3) concurrent radiation therapy
(4) age
(5) comorbid conditions such as malnutrition or graft-vs-host disease
Risk Level |
Hair Loss |
3 |
usually causes, common |
2 |
sometimes causes |
1 |
uncommon |
Drug |
Risk of Hair Loss |
5-flurouracil (5-FU) |
2 |
6-mercaptopurine |
1 |
actinomycin D |
2 |
adriamycin |
3 |
amsacrine |
2 |
bleomycin |
2-3 |
busulphan |
2 |
capecitabine |
1 |
carboplatin |
1 |
carmustine |
1 |
chlorambucil |
2 |
cisplatin |
1 |
cyclophosphamide |
3 |
cytarabine |
2 |
daunorubicin |
3 |
docetaxel |
3 |
doxorubicin |
3 |
epirubicin |
3 |
etoposide |
3 |
floxuridine |
2 |
fludarabine |
1 |
gemcitabine |
2 |
hydroxyurea |
2 |
idarubicin |
3 |
ifosfamide |
3 |
irinotecan |
3 |
lomustine |
2 |
mechlorethamine (nitrogen mustard) |
2-3 |
mercaptopurine |
2 |
methotrexate |
1-2 |
mitomycin C |
1 |
mitoxantrone |
1-2 |
paclitaxel |
3 |
procarbazine |
1 |
raltritrexate |
1 |
streptozotocin |
1 |
teniposide |
2 |
thiotepa |
2 |
topotecan |
3 |
vinblastine |
2 (may be severe) |
vincristine |
2 (may be severe) |
vindesine |
3 |
vinorelbine |
2-3 |
Purpose: To identify a chemotherapeutic regimen that may be associated with alopecia.
Specialty: Hematology Oncology, Dermatology
Objective: risk factors, adverse effects
ICD-10: T45.1,