Alopecia, hypothyroidism, and Chiari Malformation

[larsdevr]

Question, Has anyone linked Hypothyroidism and Alopecia (spots of hairloss) with Chiari Malformation? I have a little brother who was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation and had the surgery (decompression, and fusion of C1-C2) at 16 years old. He just recently (at 21 years old) was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and Alopecia. The steroid shots are not helping the alopecia, and he has been put on Synthroid. I am trying to help him figure things out with the Alopecia. Doctors just keep giving him the steroid injections but after a year NOTHING has gotten better. Any information would be truly appreciated. Thanks

[Red_Star]

I meant high blood sugar not high blood pressure. An edit button would be nice right now. :)

[Red_Star]

There is no link between hypothyroidism and Chiari mentioned in any medical journal or medical website. All comments are ancedotal. That isn't a bad thing however, as there is over a decade of ancedotal comments of the conviction that statin drugs (cholesterol lowering drugs) caused high blood sugar and type 2 diabetes.  Last year the FDA ordered a black box warning for all statin drugs: risk of memory loss, confusion, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes. Never say never but for now it's a maybe/maybe not.

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

Yes, many with Chiari have a auto immune thyroid condition called Hashimoto's.....this is often missed as many Drs only test TSH and they can result in "normal" levels...we need to have in addition to TSH , Free T3 and free T4 and TPO antibodies,

An ultra sound of the thyroid is helpful too.

Many thyroid issues can cause a loss of hair or alopecia.

Even the surgery itself may have a temp loss of hair as this is a trauma to the body.

I know that steroids should not be a long term solution as it is not good ....r the Drs  true Chiari specialists?.