Primary Scarring Alopecia: Clinical-Pathological Review of 72 Cases and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Purpose of the Study: To analyze the epidemiologic, demographic, clinical, and histological characteristics of primary scarring alopecia (PSA) cases diagnosed over a 7-year period at the Department of Dermatology, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain. Procedures: Seventy-two patients diagnosed with PSA between 2006 and 2012 were included. Age, sex, ethnic group, clinical pattern, predominant histological infiltrate, final clinical diagnosis, time of onset, treatments used, and clinical evolution were evaluated and correlated. Results: The ethnic groups were distributed as follows: 93% European-Caucasian, 5% Mestizo-American, 1% oriental, and 1% Afro-American. Most cases were females (71%), and mean age was 51 ± 6 years. The follicular pattern was the most common, and the predominant inflammatory infiltrate was lymphocytic. Lichen planopilaris and frontal fibrosing alopecia were the main diagnoses. When correlating clinical aspects and histopathology, lymphocytic PSAs had a subacute onset and resulted in a nonchanging, more stable form, while neutrophilic PSAs had a more acute onset with an evolution of acute outbreaks. PSAs in a late stage with an absent/mild infiltrate had a subclinical onset and a slowly progressive or stable evolution. Conclusions: The PSAs are severe trichological conditions. Their high clinical and histopathological variability make them a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Message of the Paper: Knowing the clinical and histopathological aspects of PSAs should be of crucial importance to the dermatologist.