A case report and literature review of delayed telogen effluvium after topical imiquimod use in treating a cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion

The use of imiquimod in cervical intraepithelial lesions has been evaluated in different trials and was found associated with various and numerous adverse events. Telogen effluvium is an infrequent systemic adverse event observed mainly in patients experiencing severe systemic adverse reactions. This paper presents the case of a young woman who developed telogen effluvium after intravaginal imiquimod use that was not preceded by other systemic adverse events and resolved gradually after nine months. Telogen effluvium after intravaginal imiquimod use is rare, may appear without any preceding severe adverse event, and may persist for an extended period.

Imiquimod; Intravaginal administration; Adverse effect; Telogen effluvium

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