Screening of Helicobacter pylori in alopecia areata patients

Abstract

Objectives The aim of the present study was to clarify whether Helicobacter pylori plays a role in the pathogenesis of alopecic areata or not. Background Alopecia areata (AA) is an immune-mediated form of hair loss that occurs in all ethnic groups, ages, and both sexes. H. pylori has been associated with many extradigestive dermatological conditions. The causal relation between AA and H. pylori is discussed in this study. Patients and methods We screened patients with AA for the presence of H. pylori to determine any potential role in its pathophysiology. We prospectively studied 30 patients with AA and 20 healthy volunteers (control group) of similar sex for the presence of H. pylori stool antigen (HpSAg) (which is available according to the protocol) from February 2015 to January 2016 at El-Bagour Central Hospital. Results The values for H. pylori infection were positive in 25 of the 30 (83.3%) patients evaluated, whereas in five (16.7%) patients, the values did not support H. pylori infection. In the control group, seven out of 20 (35%) had positive results. There was a high significant difference between the patients (83.3%) and control (35%) groups as regards positivity of HpSAg. Furthermore, as per the quantitative estimation of the level of HpSAg. In the two groups, it was found to be significantly elevated with mean ± SD 1.73 ± 0.88 U/ml for patients and 1.04 ± 0.85 for controls (P = 0.009). Conclusion H. pylori infection may play a role in the pathogenesis of AA.