Alopesi Areatalı Hastaların Klinik ve Sosyodemografik Özellikleri ve Bu Özellikler Arası İlişkiler

Abstract

Objective: Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects hair follicles. This study aimed to determine the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of patients with AA, and the correlations between them. Material and Methods: A hundred and fifty three AA patients (49 female and 104 male with a mean age 28 years) were included in the study. Their sociodemographic characteristics, clinical data and etiologic data were recorded. The severity of disease was determined using Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) scores. Results: Mean SALT scores increased significantly in patients whose onset of the disease was in the childhood, and in patients who had multiple episodes of AA previously. Mean SALT scores also increased for patients with a positive family history of AA, nail involvement, ophiasis, nevus flammeus or autoimmune diseases (p< 0.05). No significant difference was found between SALT scores, and sex and presence of atopy. Conclusion: Early stages of the disease, positive family history of AA, the presence of the nail involvement, nevus flammeus, ophiasis, and autoimmune diseases were associated with severe involvement in this study. Considering the correlation between these factors in patient management is thought to be helpful in selecting a more appropriate and effective treatment.