Alopecia universalis (AU), also known as alopecia areata universalis, is a medical condition involving the loss of all body hair, including eyebrows, eyelashes, chest hair, armpit hair, and pubic hair. It is the most severe form of alopecia areata. People with the disease are usually healthy and have no other symptoms and a normal life expectancy. Causes
Alopecia universalis can occur at any age, and is currently believed to be an autoimmune disorder, in which a persons immune system attacks the hair follicles. Genetic factors may contribute to AU, as about 20% of those affected have a family member with alopecia. Treatment
Many treatments have been explored, including immunomodulatory agents such as imiquimod. Tofacitinib citrate may also have benefits. In June 2014,  a 25-year-old man with almost no hair on his body was reported to have grown full head of hair, as well as eyebrows, eyelashes, and facial, armpit, and other hair, following eight months of treatment.Contact immunotherapy involves the use of contact allergens, such as diphencyprone  and squaric acid dibutylester, to induce an immune response that is thought to oppose the action of cells causing hair loss. A review that combined and analyzed the findings of 45 studies comprising 2,227 patients showed any hair regrowth in 54.5% and complete hair regrowth in 24.9% of patients with AT and AU using contact immunotherapy.
The oral doses must be double the intravenous (IV) mesna dose due to bioavailability issues. The oral preparation allows patients to leave the hospital sooner, instead of staying four to five days for all the IV mesna infusions. Mechanism of action
Mesna reduces the toxicity of urotoxic compounds that may form after chemotherapy administration. Mesna is a water-soluble compound with antioxidant properties, and is given concomitantly with the chemotherapeutic agents cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide. Mesna concentrates in the bladder where acrolein accumulates after administration of chemotherapy and through a Michael addition, forms a conjugate with acrolein and other urotoxic metabolites. This conjugation reaction inactivates the urotoxic compounds to harmless metabolites. The metabolites are then excreted in the urine. Names
It is marketed by Baxter as Uromitexan and Mesnex. The name of the substance is an acronym for 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate Na (Na being the chemical symbol for sodium). See also
Coenzyme M—a coenzyme with the same structure used by methanogenic bacteria

References
External links
BC Cancer Agency
NIH/MedlinePlus patient information
Mesna at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)