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Clinical and Experimental Dermatology Oct 2023Alopecia areata (AA), especially very severe types, causes patients severe psychological and social distress. Although baricitinib alone has been shown to be effective...
Alopecia areata (AA), especially very severe types, causes patients severe psychological and social distress. Although baricitinib alone has been shown to be effective in conferring complete hair regrowth (HR) in severe AA [Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score 50-94], it gave poor therapeutic results in very severe AA (SALT score ≥ 95). Methotrexate alone is similarly ineffective, but in a recent study of patients with areata totalis or universalis, low-dose prednisone with methotrexate gave a 20% rate of HR, and was effective and well tolerated. In our study of baricitinib 4 mg + prednisone 20 mg per day tapered over 3 months to treat eight women with very severe AA, seven of eight achieved complete HR (SALT score 0) and one had partial HR (SALT score 30).
Topics: Humans; Female; Alopecia Areata; Prednisone; Methotrexate; Adrenal Cortex Hormones
PubMed: 37467740
DOI: 10.1093/ced/llad239 -
Frontiers in Medicine 2023Alopecia areata (AA) is a disease featured by recurrent, non-scarring hair loss with a variety of clinical manifestations. The outcome of AA patients varies greatly....
BACKGROUND
Alopecia areata (AA) is a disease featured by recurrent, non-scarring hair loss with a variety of clinical manifestations. The outcome of AA patients varies greatly. When they progress to the subtypes of alopecia totalis (AT) or alopecia universalis (AU), the outcome is unfavorable. Therefore, identifying clinically available biomarkers that predict the risk of AA recurrence could improve the prognosis for AA patients.
METHODS
In this study, we conducted weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and functional annotation analysis to identify key genes that correlated to the severity of AA. Then, 80 AA children were enrolled at the Department of Dermatology, Wuhan Children's Hospital between January 2020 to December 2020. Clinical information and serum samples were collected before and after treatment. And the serum level of proteins coded by key genes were quantitatively detected by ELISA. Moreover, 40 serum samples of healthy children from the Department of Health Care, Wuhan Children's Hospital were used for healthy control.
RESULTS
We identified four key genes that significantly increased (, and ) or decreased () in AA tissues, especially in the subtypes of AT and AU. Then, the serum levels of these markers in different groups of AA patients were detected to validate the results of bioinformatics analysis. Similarly, the serum levels of these markers were found remarkedly correlated with the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score. Finally, a prediction model that combined multiple markers was established by conducting a logistic regression analysis.
CONCLUSION
In the present study, we construct a novel model based on serum levels of , and , which served as a potential non-invasive prognostic biomarker for forecasting the recurrence of AA patients with high accuracy.
PubMed: 37359017
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1189134 -
Dermatology and Therapy Aug 2023Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease with an underlying immuno-inflammatory pathogenesis. Treatments can include systemic corticosteroids and immunomodulators...
INTRODUCTION
Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease with an underlying immuno-inflammatory pathogenesis. Treatments can include systemic corticosteroids and immunomodulators (such as Janus kinase inhibitors); these medications may be associated with a risk of some adverse events. However, large-scale observational studies of baseline incidence rates (IRs) of infection, cardiovascular disease, malignancy, and thromboembolism in US patients with AA, including those with alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis (AT/AU), are limited. This real-world, US claims-based study aimed to estimate the incidence of events in patients with AA compared with matched patients without AA.
METHODS
Patients aged ≥ 12 years enrolled in the Optum Clinformatics Data Mart database from 1 October 2016 to 30 September 2020, with ≥ 2 AA diagnosis codes were included in the AA cohort. Patients without AA were age-, sex-, and race-matched 3:1 to patients with AA. Baseline comorbidities were evaluated during the 12-month period pre-index date. Incident cases of serious/herpes infections, malignancies, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and thromboembolic events were evaluated post-index date. Data are presented using descriptive statistics, proportional percentages, frequencies, and IRs (calculated with 95% CI).
RESULTS
Overall, 8784 patients with AA, 599 of whom had AT/AU, were matched to 26,352 patients without AA. IRs per 1000 person-years among the AA and non-AA cohorts, respectively, were 18.5 and 20.6 for serious infections, 19.5 and 9.7 for herpes simplex infections, 7.8 and 7.6 for herpes zoster infections, 12.5 and 11.6 for primary malignancies, 16.0 and 18.1 for MACE, and 4.9 and 6.1 for venous thromboembolisms. Compared with patients with non-AT/AU AA, patients with AT/AU largely had higher IRs for most baseline comorbidities and outcome events evaluated.
CONCLUSION
Patients with AA had a higher IR of herpes simplex infection than the matched non-AA cohort. Patients with AT/AU generally had higher rates of outcome events than patients without AT/AU.
PubMed: 37296372
DOI: 10.1007/s13555-023-00937-9 -
The Journal of Dermatology Sep 2023Alopecia areata (AA) is associated with an increased burden of autoimmune and inflammatory disease and mental health conditions that may have a negative impact on...
Alopecia areata (AA) is associated with an increased burden of autoimmune and inflammatory disease and mental health conditions that may have a negative impact on quality of life. However, the exact burden of comorbidities on US patients with AA and the clinical subtypes alopecia totalis (AT) and alopecia universalis (AU) compared with those without AA is not well understood. This retrospective cohort study aimed to assess the incidence rates and prevalence of AA and its clinical subtypes and examine the autoimmune and inflammatory disease and mental health condition diagnosis burden in US patients with AA and a matched cohort without AA. The Optum Clinformatics Data Mart database was used to select patients aged ≥12 years enrolled between October 1, 2016, and September 30, 2020, who had two or more AA diagnosis codes for the AA cohort. Three patients without AA were age-, sex-, and race-matched to each patient with AA. Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases and mental health conditions were evaluated at baseline and up to 2 years after the index date. In total, 8784 patients with AA (599 with AT/AU) and 26 352 matched patients without AA were included. The incidence rate of AA was 17.5 per 100 000 person-years (PY; AT/AU: 1.1 per 100 000 PY; non-AT/AU: 16.3 per 100 000 PY), and the prevalence was 54.9 per 100 000 persons (AT/AU: 3.8; non-AT/AU: 51.2). Patients with AA had a higher prevalence of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases than the matched non-AA cohort, including allergic rhinitis (24.0% vs 14.5%), asthma (12.8% vs 8.8%), atopic dermatitis (8.3% vs 1.8%), and psoriasis (5.0% vs. 1.6%). The proportions of anxiety (30.7% vs 21.6%) and major depressive disorder (17.5% vs 14.0%) were higher in patients with AA than those without AA. Patients with AT/AU generally had a greater prevalence of autoimmune and inflammatory disease and mental health conditions than patients with non-AT/AU AA.
Topics: Humans; Alopecia Areata; Retrospective Studies; Mental Health; Prevalence; Depressive Disorder, Major; Quality of Life
PubMed: 37291688
DOI: 10.1111/1346-8138.16839 -
The American Journal of Dermatopathology Jul 2023Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic multisystem inflammatory disease that can affect virtually any part of the body. Often, it can initially present solely in the skin....
Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic multisystem inflammatory disease that can affect virtually any part of the body. Often, it can initially present solely in the skin. Histologically, it is characterized by noncaseating, 'naked' granulomas in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Clinically, sarcoidosis is often referred to as a 'mimicker' of many other pathologic processes because of its wide array of presentations. Occasionally, sarcoidosis can present in the scalp as both a scarring and nonscarring alopecia. There are countless reports of sarcoidosis mimicking various other alopecias including acne keloidalis nuchae, discoid lupus erythematosus, frontal fibrosing alopecia, lichen planopilaris, and alopecia areata totalis. In this case series, we present 2 novel cases of sarcoidosis not just clinically mimicking other forms of alopecia but occurring in conjunction with a separate and histologically distinct primary alopecia.
Topics: Humans; Alopecia; Alopecia Areata; Cicatrix; Lichen Planus; Sarcoidosis; Scalp
PubMed: 37249361
DOI: 10.1097/DAD.0000000000002454 -
The Journal of Dermatology Oct 2023House dust mite (HDM) is the most common allergen exacerbating atopic dermatitis (AD), and allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) using HDM exhibited significant...
House dust mite (HDM) is the most common allergen exacerbating atopic dermatitis (AD), and allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) using HDM exhibited significant improvements in previous studies. Alopecia can occur as a complication of AD. Alopecia totalis (AT), a severe form of alopecia areata (AA), does not respond well to treatment and the chance of full recovery is less than 10%. For extensive hair loss, topical immunotherapy such as diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) is used as the first-line treatment. However, since DPCP is a kind of contact allergen, it has the potential to exacerbate AD. A 38-year-old man with AD and AA visited our clinic with symptoms worsening from 3 months ago. Although taking oral methylprednisolone (8 mg/day) and cyclosporine (100 mg/day) for 3 months, he has lost over 90% of his hair and the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) was 43. Total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were 4454 kU/L (normal <100 kU/L) and the specific IgE levels for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae following ImmunoCAP® were 20.8 and 37.4 kU/L, respectively. This patient did not respond well to previous treatment and was reluctant to use long-term steroids, so subcutaneous AIT using HDM was administered along with oral cyclosporine (100 mg/day). Topical tacrolimus was also applied to the AD lesions throughout the body. To reduce itching, nonsedative antihistamines were used if necessary. Hair loss was almost completely improved 1 year after the AIT initiation and the skin lesions of AD also improved (EASI 2.4). The specific IgE levels for D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae were 3.73 and 7.16 kU/L, respectively. Herein, we report a patient with promising results following AIT for AT with severe AD. In severe alopecic patients with AD refractory to conventional treatment, including immunosuppressants, AIT could be considered as a treatment option.
Topics: Male; Humans; Adult; Dermatitis, Atopic; Alopecia Areata; Desensitization, Immunologic; Allergens; Immunoglobulin E; Cyclosporins
PubMed: 37248786
DOI: 10.1111/1346-8138.16841 -
JAMA Dermatology Jul 2023Alopecia areata (AA) is associated with diverse autoimmune and psychiatric disorders. However, an investigation on the long-term outcomes for offspring born to mothers...
IMPORTANCE
Alopecia areata (AA) is associated with diverse autoimmune and psychiatric disorders. However, an investigation on the long-term outcomes for offspring born to mothers diagnosed with AA is lacking.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the risks for autoimmune, inflammatory, atopic, thyroid, and psychiatric outcomes of offspring born to mothers with AA.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This retrospective population-based birth cohort study used the linked birth registration database with the Nationwide Health Insurance Service database of Korea. The participants included all newborns born to mothers with 3 or more visits with International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision code of L63 and 1:10 birth year, sex, insurance, income, and location of residence-matched control offspring born to mothers without AA during the years from 2003 to 2015. The analysis was conducted from July 2022 to January 2023.
EXPOSURE
Maternal AA.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The occurrence of the following diseases was measured in newborns from birth to December 31, 2020: AA, alopecia totalis/universalis (AT/AU), vitiligo, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Graves disease, Hashimoto thyroiditis, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, mood disorder, and anxiety disorder. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard analyses were performed with the following covariates: birth year, age, insurance type, income level, location of residence, maternal age, mode of delivery, maternal history of atopic disorders, and autoimmune disorders.
RESULTS
In total, 67 364 offspring born to 46 352 mothers with AA and 673 640 controls born to 454 085 unaffected mothers were analyzed. The risk of AA (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.08; 95% CI, 1.88-2.30), AT/AU (aHR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.18-2.08), vitiligo (aHR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.32-1.63), atopic disorders (aHR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.06-1.09), hypothyroidism (aHR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.03-1.25), and psychiatric disorders (aHR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.11-1.20) was significantly increased in offspring born to mothers with AA. Among them, 5088 born to mothers with AT/AU were at much greater risk for the development of AT/AU (aHR, 2.98; 95% CI, 1.48-6.00) and psychiatric disorders (aHR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.12-1.44).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
In this Korean retrospective population-based birth cohort study, maternal AA was associated with the development of autoimmune/inflammatory, atopic, thyroid, and psychiatric disorders in their offspring. Clinicians and parents need to be aware of the potential for these comorbidities to occur.
Topics: Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Alopecia Areata; Mothers; Retrospective Studies; Cohort Studies; Vitiligo; Hypothyroidism
PubMed: 37223925
DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2023.1261 -
The Journal of Dermatology Oct 2023Alopecia totalis (AT) and alopecia universalis (AU) is known to have a poor prognosis with high relapse rate, and treatment failure is observed in most patients,...
Alopecia totalis (AT) and alopecia universalis (AU) is known to have a poor prognosis with high relapse rate, and treatment failure is observed in most patients, regardless of the type of therapy. Although treatment and the prognosis of AT and AU have improved in recent years, old data are routinely cited in recent review papers without questioning them. The authors aimed to study the clinical characteristics and prognosis of AT and AU to update and compare the results with those of previously reported studies. The authors retrospectively reviewed patients diagnosed with AT and AU from 2006 to 2017 in a single institution. Of the 419 patients, the mean age at first episode was 22.9 years, and 24.6% had early onset (≤13 years). During follow-up, 53.9% had more than 50% hair growth, and 19.6% of patients showed >90% hair growth. Among patients who showed >50% improvement, 36.7% had no recurrence. In early studies conducted in the 1950s and 1960s, the chance of full hair regrowth was reported to be <10%. In our study, patients with >90% improvement in AT and AU accounted for 19.6% of patients. The authors provide an update on data regarding the prognoses of AT and AU.
Topics: Humans; Retrospective Studies; Alopecia Areata; Alopecia; Prognosis; Hair
PubMed: 37208851
DOI: 10.1111/1346-8138.16840 -
Dermatology Research and Practice 2023Alopecia areata (AA) is a common form of noncicatricial hair loss of unknown cause, affecting 0.1-0.2% of the general population. Most evidence supports the hypothesis...
BACKGROUND
Alopecia areata (AA) is a common form of noncicatricial hair loss of unknown cause, affecting 0.1-0.2% of the general population. Most evidence supports the hypothesis that it is disease of the hair follicle of autoimmune nature mediated by T-cells, with important cytokine role. . The objective of this study is to study the association and changes in serum levels of interleukin-15 (IL-15) and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) in patients with AA in relation to the type, activity, and disease duration. . Thirty-eight patients with AA and 22 individuals without the disease as controls were enrolled in this case-controlled study conducted in the Department of Dermatology in the Al-Kindy Teaching Hospital and Baghdad Medical City, Iraq, during a period from the 1st of April 2021 to the 1st of December 2021. Serum concentrations of IL-15 and TNF- assessed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
RESULTS
The mean serum concentration values for IL-15 and TNF- were higher significantly in patients with AA than in controls (2.35 versus 0.35 pg/mL and 50.11 versus 20.92 pg/mL, respectively). IL-15 and TNF- showed no statistically significant differences in level in terms of the type, duration, and activity of the disease, but TNF- significantly higher in those with totalis-type than in other types.
CONCLUSION
Both IL-15 and TNF- are markers for alopecia areata. The level for these biomarkers was not affected by duration or disease activity, but it was affected by the type of disease, as the concentrations of IL-15 and TNF- were higher in patient with Alopecia totalis than in other types of Alopecia.
PubMed: 37206670
DOI: 10.1155/2023/5109772 -
Journal of the American Academy of... Oct 2023Data on the association between the development of autoimmune diseases and COVID-19 vaccination are limited.
BACKGROUND
Data on the association between the development of autoimmune diseases and COVID-19 vaccination are limited.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the incidence and risk of autoimmune connective tissue disorders following mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination.
METHODS
This nationwide population-based study was conducted in South Korea. Individuals who received vaccination between September 8, 2020-December 31, 2021, were identified. Historical prepandemic controls were matched for age and sex in 1:1 ratio. The incidence rate and risk of disease outcomes were compared.
RESULTS
A total of 3,838,120 vaccinated individuals and 3,834,804 controls without evidence of COVID-19 were included. The risk of alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, primary cicatricial alopecia, psoriasis, vitiligo, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis, sarcoidosis, Behcet disease, Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, Sjogren syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, dermato/polymyositis, and bullous pemphigoid was not significantly higher in vaccinated individuals than in controls. The risk was comparable according to age, sex, type of mRNA-based vaccine, and cross-vaccination status.
LIMITATIONS
Possible selection bias and residual confounders.
CONCLUSION
These findings suggest that most autoimmune connective tissue disorders are not associated with a significant increase in risk. However, caution is necessary when interpreting results for rare outcomes due to limited statistical power.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19 Vaccines; COVID-19; Autoimmune Diseases; Connective Tissue Diseases; Alopecia Areata; Vaccination; Connective Tissue
PubMed: 37187424
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.05.017