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Acta Dermato-venereologica Aug 2023Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder characterized by hair loss, for which there are few treatment options. This claims-based study characterized recent real-world...
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder characterized by hair loss, for which there are few treatment options. This claims-based study characterized recent real-world treatment patterns among patients in the USA with alopecia areata, including the subtypes alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis, in the first year after diagnosis of an episode of alopecia areata. Approximately 5% of all patients (adults (age ≥ 18 years), n = 7,703; adolescents (age 12-17 years), n = 595) had alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis. Corticosteroids were the most common first-line (1L) and second-line (2L) treatments. The mean time from diagnosis of alopecia areata to initiation of 1L treatment was 2.2 days for adults and 2.6 days for adolescents; mean 1L duration was 76.9 and 64.3 days, respectively. For adults (57.5%) and adolescents (59.7%) with 2L therapy, the mean time from 1L discontinuation to 2L initiation was 57.2 and 53.6 days, respectively; the mean duration of 2L treatment was 55.5 and 50.1 days, respectively. More patients with vs without alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis initiated 2L therapy (adults: 71.9% vs 56.8%; adolescents: 71.4% vs 58.9%). The proportion of days covered during the first year post-diagnosis was 36.7% (adults) and 34.1% (adolescents). These results highlight the substantial disease burden of alopecia areata and a need for more effective treatments.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Humans; United States; Child; Alopecia Areata; Insurance Claim Review; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 37622204
DOI: 10.2340/actadv.v103.12445 -
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology 2000Alopecia areata is a common form of non-scarring alopecia that appears equally in males and females of any age, although children and adolescents are more commonly... (Review)
Review
Alopecia areata is a common form of non-scarring alopecia that appears equally in males and females of any age, although children and adolescents are more commonly affected. The disorder is usually characterized by limited alopecic patches on the scalp, but more severe forms may affect the entire scalp (alopecia totalis) or body (alopecia universalis). Characteristic nail changes may also accompany hair loss. Alopecia areata has been linked with certain human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles, indicating a probable autoimmune etiology. Current research implicates T lymphocytes in the pathogenetic mechanism of disease. Other autoimmune diseases are also linked with alopecia areata. The diagnosis of alopecia areata is usually made clinically, although a biopsy is diagnostic for this condition. Treatment is challenging and aims at the regrowth of hair in affected individuals. Intralesional corticosteroid injections are widely used in mild disease. Topical anthralin and minoxidil may also be clinically efficacious. Topical sensitizers, such as squaric acid dibutlyester and diphenyl-cyclopropenone, are sometimes employed. Various therapies for the disease may have efficacy in different patients, making a universal treatment algorithm difficult to implement. Patients should be handled on an individual basis, with the final outcome based on the cosmetic regrowth of hair. Maintenance therapy is also important in patients that do achieve acceptable regrowth, necessitating a highly motivated patient and good rapport with the treating physician.
Topics: Alopecia Areata; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans
PubMed: 11702308
DOI: 10.2165/00128071-200001020-00004 -
Revue Medicale de Liege Dec 1992
Review
Topics: Adult; Alopecia Areata; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Humans; Immune System Diseases; Male
PubMed: 1470787
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Dermatological Science Apr 2015Alopecia areata (AA) is a common immune-mediated hair loss disorder. Despite its high prevalence, its etiology is still largely unknown, but it is hypothesized to have a... (Review)
Review
Alopecia areata (AA) is a common immune-mediated hair loss disorder. Despite its high prevalence, its etiology is still largely unknown, but it is hypothesized to have a strong genetic basis. In the last decade, there has been a major progress in the field of genetic research, leading to novel findings regarding the genetic component of AA. The aim of this review is to summarize the information collected so far in this field, the basic principles of the genetic methods used in previous studies, and new therapeutic strategies that might become available in light of the new findings.
Topics: Alopecia Areata; Animals; Autoimmunity; Genetic Markers; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genome-Wide Association Study; Humans; Phenotype; Prognosis; Risk Factors; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 25676427
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2015.01.004 -
International Journal of Dermatology Mar 1996Alopecia areata is a common disease and may be associated with autoimmune disease, atopy, Down syndrome, emotional stress, and foci of sepsis. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Alopecia areata is a common disease and may be associated with autoimmune disease, atopy, Down syndrome, emotional stress, and foci of sepsis.
METHODS
Seven cases of alopecia areata were diagnosed among workers in the Water and Effluent Treatment Sector (WETS) of a paper factory, representing a 0.6% incidence, when the value for the population at large is 0.1%. Three of these workers are assigned to the WETS on a permanent basis and four provide maintenance services. One of the latter patients had alopecia areata that fully regressed. Because biologic treatment of water and effluents involves saprophytic bacteria and fungi as well as chemical substances such as acrylamide, a clinical examination and laboratory tests were performed on all workers assigned permanently to the WETS (N = 9) and on 25% of the workers, selected at random providing services to the sector (N = 14).
RESULTS
There was no association between alopecia areata and atopy, dermatophytosis, or bacteria isolated. Toxicologic evaluation revealed an acrylamide-like substance in 7 workers with alopecia areata, with a statistically significant correlation. Measures were taken at the workplace to decrease worker contact with the mists (probably containing acrylamide) in the pulp-pressing room; no other cases of alopecia areata had been detected 1 year after the study.
CONCLUSIONS
A survey of the literature did not show reports of alopecia areata as an occupational dermatosis, but our conclusion is, that this dermatosis could be due to the professional activities of the workers at the paper factory studied.
Topics: Adult; Alopecia Areata; Dermatitis, Occupational; Humans; Incidence; Industry; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases; Paper; Risk Factors
PubMed: 8655233
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-4362.1996.tb01635.x -
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology : JDD Apr 2022Alopecia areata (AA) is a condition characterized by nonscarring hair loss. Cases of alopecia areata are most commonly seen in patients under age 30 and are frequently...
Alopecia areata (AA) is a condition characterized by nonscarring hair loss. Cases of alopecia areata are most commonly seen in patients under age 30 and are frequently idiopathic. In this report, we discuss a woman in her 50s who developed AA shortly after receiving the Tdap vaccine and after one year of guselkumab therapy.
Topics: Adult; Alopecia Areata; Female; Humans
PubMed: 35389584
DOI: 10.36849/JDD.5815 -
Dermatologic Therapy Mar 2021Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune T CD8 cell mediated condition clinically characterized by hair loss from single or few small patches to complete hair loss. The...
Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune T CD8 cell mediated condition clinically characterized by hair loss from single or few small patches to complete hair loss. The management of AA is challenging and all available therapies does not ensure a long-term remission. To assess the safety and efficacy of both systemic and topical brevilin A, a natural compound, in AA patients not responding to other treatments. After obtaining informed consent, we administered off-label brevilin A to 13 adult patients affected by AA, for a period ranging from 6 to 18 months. Medical records for each patient and the severity of alopecia tool (SALT) score before and after brevilin A administration were recorded. The mean SALT score of our patients was 81.03 (SD 34.9) at baseline and 75.8 (SD 37.4) after brevilin A therapy, meaning no statistically significant improvement was observed (P = .2385 Paired t test). However, three multifocal AA (MAA) patients out of four attained an improvement (75%) suggesting that brevilin A may be represent an alternative therapy in this form of AA. Authors conclude that brevilin A could represent in the future a possible effective treatment in MAA forms but further studies are required.
Topics: Adult; Alopecia; Alopecia Areata; Crotonates; Humans; Sesquiterpenes; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 33438308
DOI: 10.1111/dth.14778 -
The Journal of Investigative... Dec 2013
Topics: Age of Onset; Alopecia Areata; DNA; Humans; Registries; Skin; Tissue Banks; United States
PubMed: 24326558
DOI: 10.1038/jidsymp.2013.20 -
The Journal of Investigative... Jan 2018The collapse of the immune privilege (IP) of the anagen hair bulb is now accepted as a key element in AA pathogenesis, and hair bulb IP restoration lies at the core of... (Review)
Review
The collapse of the immune privilege (IP) of the anagen hair bulb is now accepted as a key element in AA pathogenesis, and hair bulb IP restoration lies at the core of AA therapy. Here, we briefly review the essentials of hair bulb IP and recent progress in understanding its complexity. We discuss open questions and why the systematic dissection of hair bulb IP and its pharmacological manipulation (including the clinical testing of FK506 and α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogs) promise to extend the range of future therapeutic options in AA and other IP collapse-related autoimmune diseases.
Topics: Alopecia Areata; Autoimmune Diseases; Hair Follicle; Humans; Immune Privilege; Phenotype
PubMed: 29273098
DOI: 10.1016/j.jisp.2017.10.014 -
Journal of the European Academy of... Oct 2020
Topics: Alopecia Areata; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Dermatitis, Atopic; Eczema; Humans
PubMed: 32311803
DOI: 10.1111/jdv.16493