Monilethrix (also referred to as beaded hair) is a rare autosomal dominant hair disease that results in short, fragile, broken hair that appears beaded. It comes from the Latin word for necklace (monile) and the Greek word for hair (thrix). Hair becomes brittle, and breaks off at the thinner parts between the beads. It appears as a thinning or baldness of hair and was first described in 1897 by Walter Smith

Signs and symptoms
Some indicators of monilethrix are small bumps on the skin, mainly on the scalp, neck and arms. In most cases, firm, dark papules, covered with dark scales and crusts appears on the skin, especially the scalp. The affected individual would have beaded hair strands. The possible areas for the hair loss are the eyebrows, eyelashes, limbs, and pubic region. Hair strands are usually dull, dry, and brittle. The strands are prone to mild to severe breakage, causing onset alopecia, especially during pregnancy. Fingernail and toenails tend to appear abnormal. The onset for this disease varies from person to person. The frequency of monilethrix is currently unknown. Presentation
Newborns are not born with Monilethrix; it usually develops within the first few months of life. The presentation may be of alopecia (baldness). Individuals vary in severity of symptoms. Nail deformities may also be present as well as hair follicle keratosis and follicular hyperkeratosis. Depending on severity it can effect hair on all areas of the body including head hair, arm and leg hair, pubic hair, underarm hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes.
Diagnosis
Techniques for the diagnosis of Page kidney are all imaging based, including abdominal x-ray, intravenous pyelography, angiography, renal doppler ultrasound, CT scan, and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). X-ray and pyelography may add in diagnosis, but are non-diagnostic when used alone. Additionally, pyelograms use potentially nephrotoxic contrast agents, further limiting their utility. Diagnosis is primarily made using ultrasound and CT. CT and MRI imaging can show the space occupying lesions but doppler ultrasound is needed to display the hemodynamic changes occurring in the kidney. Ultrasound is often the initial diagnostic test of choice but due to its low resolution further imaging may be necessary. Treatment
Surgical
Surgical treatment of Page kidney has evolved over time as newer techniques have become more popular. Open surgical procedures such as nephrectomy, which was once the treatment of choice have been replaced by less invasive options such as percutaneous drainage or endoscopic capsulotomy. Medical
Some cases of Page kidney will resolve spontaneously without need for surgical treatment. In this case, medical treatment focuses on symptomatic treatment of the hypertension with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) or an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB). Adding a calcium channel blocker (CCB) or beta blocker to the ACEi or ARB has also been described. History
Irvine H. Page first demonstrated the Page kidney phenomena experimentally in animals in 1939. He found that wrapping one of the animals kidneys in cellophane produced hypertension that could be reversed after removal of the kidney.