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Autoimmunity Reviews Feb 2015Alopecia areata (AA) is a common, non-scarring dermatologic condition regularly distinguished by patches of hair loss on the scalp also manifesting in other, severe... (Review)
Review
Alopecia areata (AA) is a common, non-scarring dermatologic condition regularly distinguished by patches of hair loss on the scalp also manifesting in other, severe forms, including alopecia totalis (total loss of hair on the scalp) and alopecia universalis (complete loss of hair on the scalp and body). AA is a clinically heterogeneous disease with greatly varying yet typical symptoms, but the etiology for AA remains an enigma. However, clinical and experimental studies have pointed to autoimmune involvement, specifically regarding immune privilege sites of the hair follicles and the infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and a predominant Th1 cytokine profile. Environmental insults, such as viral infections, trauma and genetic predisposition are also believed to contribute to the disease process. Multiple treatment options including the use of broad acting corticosteroids appear to be relatively effective in mild cases, however the clinical management of more severe forms of AA is much more difficult. Recent studies suggest that intervention of the JAK pathway may have a potential therapeutic efficacy for AA.
Topics: Alopecia Areata; Animals; Autoimmunity; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cytokines; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans
PubMed: 25315746
DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2014.10.014 -
Ochsner Journal 2021Both psychiatric disorders and diverse medications used to treat them have been associated with alopecia. The objective of our study was to investigate the existence of...
Both psychiatric disorders and diverse medications used to treat them have been associated with alopecia. The objective of our study was to investigate the existence of an association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) stimulant medication (ASM) and various types of alopecia. We conducted a retrospective case-control medical record review of patients between the ages of 6 and 18 years seen in dermatology clinics during a 10-year period. Cases included patients diagnosed with alopecia areata (AA), alopecia totalis (AT), or alopecia universalis (AU). We matched 3 controls on age and sex to each case. We reviewed patients' medical records for the following medications: lisdexamfetamine, amphetamine/dextroamphetamine, dexmethylphenidate, and methylphenidate. We examined the association between medications used to treat ADHD and diagnoses of AA, AT, and/or AU by calculating a series of odds ratios and 95% CIs. We identified 124 cases (110 with AA, 11 with AT, and 3 with AU) and 372 controls. We found a strong association between AU and ASM use (<0.0071). No relationship between ASM use and other types of hair loss was found. Although the sample size of cases with AU was small, we found a significant association between AU and ASM. While further study is needed, practitioners may consider close monitoring of patients with AA who use ASM for the development of worsening disease and discontinue the medication if the patient experiences an increase in hair loss that appears to be progressing to AU.
PubMed: 34239372
DOI: 10.31486/toj.20.0025 -
Journal of the American Academy of... Apr 2023
Topics: Humans; Alopecia Areata; Alopecia; Hispanic or Latino
PubMed: 36528267
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2022.10.049 -
Dermatologic Therapy Jul 2021The aim of this study was to evaluate metabolic syndrome prevalence in patients with Alopecia Areata compared to controls. Sixty eligible patients with Alopecia Areata...
The aim of this study was to evaluate metabolic syndrome prevalence in patients with Alopecia Areata compared to controls. Sixty eligible patients with Alopecia Areata and 60 healthy subjects frequency matched for age and sex attending to our referral dermatology clinics from 2015 to 2017 were enrolled. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components were compared between the two groups. Metabolic syndrome was only seen in seven patients (11.67%) and four controls (6.67%) without a significant difference (P = .34). The clinical presentations of AA included patch type (38.33%), ophiasis (6.67%), alopecia totalis (16.67%), and alopecia universalis (38.33%). Presence of metabolic syndrome was significantly associated with abdominal circumference (OR: 1.10, 95% CI for OR: 1.02to 1.19). Although there was no significant association between Alopecia Areata and metabolic syndrome, some components of metabolic syndrome were more prevalent in these patients. It may be concluded Alopecia Areata patients are at a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome in the future. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed.
Topics: Alopecia Areata; Case-Control Studies; Humans; Metabolic Syndrome; Prevalence
PubMed: 33991033
DOI: 10.1111/dth.14979 -
Case report: Dupilumab therapy for alopecia areata in a 4-year-old patient resistant to baricitinib.Frontiers in Medicine 2023Alopecia areata (AA) is a non-scarring hair loss disorder. Alopecia totalis (AT) and alopecia universalis (AU) are the severe subtypes of AA. Age of onset before 6 years...
Alopecia areata (AA) is a non-scarring hair loss disorder. Alopecia totalis (AT) and alopecia universalis (AU) are the severe subtypes of AA. Age of onset before 6 years of age, disease duration of more than 1 year, and extensive alopecia involving more than 50% of the scalp (including AT or AU) suggest a poorer prognosis. Topical corticosteroids are the preferred first-line treatment for pediatric AA. While some treatments, such as intralesional corticosteroids, systemic steroids, contact immunotherapy with squaric acid dibutyl ester, and JAK inhibitors, showed efficacy in adults with AA, their safety profiles limit their use in pediatric AA patients. Dupilumab is a biologic that effectively addresses the patho-physiology of Th2 allergic diseases, and treats atopic diseases by inhibiting the helper Th2 immune axis. AA has been reported to be significantly improved with dupilumab for atopic dermatitis (AD) in children and adults. We report hair regrowth over all of the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes after 10 months of dupilumab therapy in a 4-year-old AU patient resistant to baricitinib.
PubMed: 37877023
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1253795 -
International Journal of Dermatology Jul 2022Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by nonscarring hair loss that can involve the scalp, face, and body. Severe AA subtypes have a poorer...
BACKGROUND
Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by nonscarring hair loss that can involve the scalp, face, and body. Severe AA subtypes have a poorer prognosis and can be challenging to treat. Tofacitinib, a recently introduced Janus kinase inhibitor, has shown positive results in treating AA. This multicenter study demonstrates the efficacy of tofacitinib and the patient response rate in a Saudi population. It also highlights patient characteristics that may serve as predictors of the therapeutic response to tofacitinib.
METHODS
A prospective cohort study design was utilized. Study participants were included from three medical centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score was used to assess the percentage of hair loss at baseline and the percentage of hair regrowth at 3 and 6 months.
RESULTS
The sample size was 68 with an average baseline SALT score of 76.8 ± 27.6%. Data at 6 months were available for 45 patients. Of these, 62.2% achieved a SALT score of >50%. Patients with a score of <50% had a significantly higher baseline SALT score compared to patients with >50% score. The past use of systemic steroids was associated with a diminished response to therapy (P = 0.015). The response to therapy was significantly higher in patients with AA compared to alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis.
CONCLUSIONS
Tofacitinib is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for severe AA and exhibits a good safety profile.
Topics: Alopecia; Alopecia Areata; Humans; Piperidines; Prospective Studies; Pyrimidines; Pyrroles; Saudi Arabia; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 34716573
DOI: 10.1111/ijd.15917 -
Skin Appendage Disorders Jan 2021Alopecia areata (AA) is a common autoimmune hair disorder which is characterized by noncicatricial hair loss. AA commonly presents with localized patches on the scalp...
BACKGROUND/AIM
Alopecia areata (AA) is a common autoimmune hair disorder which is characterized by noncicatricial hair loss. AA commonly presents with localized patches on the scalp and face but may affect any hair-bearing region of the body leading to even more generalized involvement. AA may affect any age group, gender, and race. The current study investigates the demographic characteristics of the patients with AA and subgroups of AA including alopecia totalis (AT) and alopecia universalis (AU) and the prevalence of disease, sex, and age distribution and seasonal variation retrospectively in a tertiary dermatology clinic in Turkey.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, 1,641 patients diagnosed with AA, AT, and AU in the dermatology clinic of a public university hospital were included. The dermatology outpatient database was reviewed retrospectively. The diagnosis of AA was based on patient history, clinical examinations, and histopathologic findings.
RESULTS
Fifty-four thousand one hundred sixty-eight patients were admitted to our outpatient clinic in 4 years time, and 1,641 were diagnosed as having AA, AT, and AU. One thousand three hundred ninety-two patients (84.8%) had AA, 81 (4.9%) had AT, and 168 (10.2%) had AU. Among the 1,641 patients included in the study, 877 were females (53.4%) and 764 were males (46.6%). The mean age was 29.86 ± 14.48 years in AA, 29.50 ± 16.18 in AT, and 32.81 ± 14.48 in AU; 77.4, 72.8, and 68.5% of patients were aged under 40 years in AA, AT, and AU. There was no statistically significant difference in seasonal presentation times.
CONCLUSION
AA is affecting approximately 2% of the general population without any sex, race, or age group predilection. In this study, we found a lower prevalence of AA in the pediatric age group in comparison with adults. This finding may support the hypothesis of the increasing prevalence of AA over time. The higher ratio of AA regarding this study may support that the frequency of AA and subtypes varies between regions.
PubMed: 33614711
DOI: 10.1159/000510880 -
The American Journal of Case Reports Jun 2022BACKGROUND Dupilumab is a relatively new immune-modulating drug that has transformed the way clinicians treat common immunologic conditions, including atopic dermatitis,...
BACKGROUND Dupilumab is a relatively new immune-modulating drug that has transformed the way clinicians treat common immunologic conditions, including atopic dermatitis, asthma, and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis. Blocking signaling molecules involved within the Th2 immune response, dupilumab is a proven effective treatment for moderate to severe atopic dermatitis - a condition whose disease pathogenesis is heavily linked to the dysregulation of this immunologic pathway. Interestingly, dupilumab has found broader clinical utility, showing efficacy in treating other distinct dermatologic diseases, including alopecia areata. CASE REPORT A 16-year-old White male with a past medical history of moderate atopic dermatitis presented to our clinic with complete scalp hair, eyebrow, and eyelash loss. At this time, the patient was given a clinical diagnosis of alopecia totalis. Understanding that dupilumab has been previously used for treatment in adults of this specific autoimmune condition, we started this adolescent patient on dupilumab to concomitantly treat his atopic dermatitis and alopecia areata. The patient gradually experienced complete regrowth of his hair and almost complete resolution of his atopic dermatitis. Three years after starting dupilumab, the patient remains without signs of alopecia totalis. CONCLUSIONS This case report demonstrates the long-term efficacy of dupilumab use in alopecia areata. More investigation is required to understand dupilumab's broadening clinical indications. Additionally, this case highlights the complex relationship between dysregulation of the Th2 response and autoimmunity. Crosstalk between immune pathways within the disease spectrum of alopecia areata may explain why dupilumab has been reported to both treat and exacerbate alopecia areata.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Alopecia Areata; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Dermatitis, Atopic; Humans; Male
PubMed: 35726185
DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.936488 -
Frontiers in Medicine 2022Alopecia areata (AA) is a non-scarring hair loss condition, subclassified into AA, alopecia universalis, and alopecia totalis. There are indications that people with AA...
INTRODUCTION
Alopecia areata (AA) is a non-scarring hair loss condition, subclassified into AA, alopecia universalis, and alopecia totalis. There are indications that people with AA experience adverse psychosocial outcomes, but previous studies have not included a thorough meta-analysis and did not compare people with AA to people with other dermatological diagnoses. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to update and expand previous systematic reviews, as well as describing and quantifying levels of anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QoL) in children and adults with AA.
METHODS
A search was conducted, yielding 1,249 unique records of which 93 were included.
RESULTS
Review results showed that people with AA have higher chances of being diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression and experience impaired QoL. Their psychosocial outcomes are often similar to other people with a dermatological condition. Meta-analytic results showed significantly more symptoms of anxiety and depression in adults with AA compared to healthy controls. Results also showed a moderate impact on QoL. These results further highlight that AA, despite causing little physical impairments, can have a significant amount on patients' well-being.
DISCUSSION
Future studies should examine the influence of disease severity, disease duration, remission and relapse, and medication use to shed light on at-risk groups in need of referral to psychological care.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/], identifier [CRD42022323174].
PubMed: 36523776
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1054898 -
Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland) 2017In alopecia totalis (AT) and alopecia universalis (AU), the chance of full hair regrowth is known to be less than 10%. However, this information is based on a few older...
BACKGROUND
In alopecia totalis (AT) and alopecia universalis (AU), the chance of full hair regrowth is known to be less than 10%. However, this information is based on a few older studies conducted in the 1950s and 1960s.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the current long-term prognosis of individuals with AT/AU.
METHODS
A retrospective chart review was performed in patients with AT/AU between 1994 and 2005. Outcome data were collected by reviewing outpatient clinical files or by phone interviews. Finally, the long-term assessment of 70 patients with valid outcome data was performed.
RESULTS
Twelve out of 70 patients with AT/AU (17.1%) had complete hair regrowth. Five out of 24 patients with AT (20.8%) showed complete hair regrowth, and 7 of 46 patients with AU (15.2%) achieved complete regrowth. Seventeen out of 70 patients with AT/AU (24.2%) reported hair regrowth greater than or equal to 90%. Thirty patients with AU (65.2%) remained in an alopecic state without improvement, while 5 patients with AT (20.8%) showed no hair regrowth.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that the long-term prognosis of AT/AU is more favorable than previously thought. However, the clinical burden of AT/AU is still substantial.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age of Onset; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alopecia; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Hair; Humans; Infant; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Recovery of Function; Retrospective Studies; Sex Factors; Time Factors; Young Adult
PubMed: 28704810
DOI: 10.1159/000477458