Retinal dystrophy combined with alopecia.

Retinitis pigmentosa or pigmentary retinal dystrophy is the most important group among the tapeto-retinal dystrophies. The degenerative process found in the retina has, in many cases, a corresponding counterpart in other parts of the body, most commonly in the CNS. Combinations of retinal dystrophy, and for instance, deafness or mental retardation are well known. Also combinations of retinal dystrophy and metabolic dyscrasia have been reported. Only few reports on the combination of retinal dystrophy and dermatological affections have been found. We have found two cases of almost total alopecia combined with retinal dystrophy. Since we have succeeded in finding a few similar cases in the literature we consider this apparently rare combination worth a somewhat closer analysis as it might constitute a specific entity.