Profile Of Alopecia Areata Research Articles

Epidemiological burden of Alopecia Areata in different cities of Al Baha Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease that causes non-scarring hair loss. Significant epidemiological differences among the population observed throughout the investigation in the literature. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA ) was found to have a greater burden of disease than other countries, but the information is lacking in Al Baha region, the southwestern area of KSA . Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine the clinico-epidemiological profile and burden of AA in the Al Baha region and to subsequently highlight the factors affecting disease prevalence. Methodology: A well-structured quantitative questionnaire was developed and distributed using an online standardized questionnaire targeting 385 Albaha patients diagnosed with AA. The diagnosis of AA was confirmed clinically by consultant dermatology before patient recruitment into the study and resulted in sufficient accuracy. The responses were collected and analyzed using SPSS statistical analysis software. The frequency of disease prevalence, patients’ ages, disease duration, impact on quality of life, risk factors, and associated diseases were analyzed. Results: A total of 385 AA patients completed the questionnaire to achieve 100% response accuracy. Most of them were located in Al-Baha center (36.1%) followed by Baljurashi city (17.1%). The most frequent age of AA diagnosis was 21–30 years old (41.3%), and the disease duration was 3–6 months in the majority of the patients (26.8%). The most common type is patchy scalp AA in 57.1% of the patients followed by AA involving more than one site (24.4%). Diabetes mellitus and chronic anemia were the associated diseases 10.9% (for both) followed by thyroid diseases in 5.2% of the patients. Conclusion: Overall, AA as a disease presents a significant concern for the population of Al-Baha region in Saudi Arabia considering the variable prevalence in different cities, especially in Al-Baha center itself. Onset occurs during adult working ages. Therefore, quality of life can be negatively affected, and outcomes can be severe. This study potentially adds more knowledge and theoretical understanding of AA clinico-epidemiology in our region. Keywords: hair loss, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia, Epidemiology

Profile of alopecia areata in patients attending dermatology out patient department in a tertiary care hospital in Gangtok, Sikkim

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Alopecia areata is a condition that is characterized by a well-defined round or oval patches of non-scaring hair loss in scalp or any hairy area of the body. Alopecia areata has become a major health problem faced by people all over the world. This research was done to ascertain the prevalence of alopecia areata in different age group and to study its association with autoimmune diseases and systemic illnesses.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> The present hospital based descriptive study includes 52 alopecia areata patients attending dermatology out-patient department.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> It was seen that the disease can occur at any age group mostly affecting those between 21-40 years. The age of presentation varied from 14 to 48 years with male preponderance. It was found that arthritis was associated in 30.7%, ANA was positive in 7.7% and 12% had hypothyroidism. Eosinophilia was found in 34.6% and 7.7% had asthma among then.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Our study shows that it could be associated with autoimmunity, thyroid abnormality, atopy and inflammation.</p>

Clinico-Epidemiological Profile of Childhood Alopecia Areata Along with Dermoscopic Correlation: A Cross-Section, Observational Study.

Background:Childhood alopecia areata (AA) is a common cause of dermatologic consultation; however, data is scarce in the present set-up.Objectives:To evaluate the clinico-epidemiological profile of childhood AA along with dermoscopic correlation.Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional study including 50 new cases of childhood AA for 1 year. Dermoscopy was performed in each child and findings recorded.Results:Childhood AA was more common in girls (M: F 1:1.4), mean age being 11.1 ± 3.7 years. Scalp was commonest site of involvement in 86% cases, while 32 (64%) children had mild disease (<25% involvement). Localized circumscribed patch was the commonest presentation in 37 (74%) children, while sisaipho was the least (2%). A positive family history of AA was noted in 5 (10%) children. Twenty-four children (48%) provided a history of atopic disorders, while 30% had a positive family history of atopy. Stress was the commonest precipitating factor in 13 (26%) subjects. Nail involvement was observed in 19 (38%) children (pitting >thinning), while systemic associations like vitiligo and thyroid dysfunction were present in 26% and 24% cases, respectively. Dermoscopy revealed yellow-dots to be the commonest finding in 44 (88%) cases, followed by short vellus hair and black dots in 76% and 28% children, respectively, while exclamation-mark hair was rare.Conclusion:Female gender, younger age, nail involvement, and presence of concomitant atopy, vitiligo, and thyroid dysfunction were associated with severe disease, but not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Regression model failed to detect any risk factors for severe AA. Dermoscopy is an important non-invasive tool for evaluating childhood AA.

Characterization of a cohort of 294 patients with late-onset alopecia areata

Characterization of a cohort of 294 patients with late-onset alopecia areata

A randomized prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of various topical treatment modalities in patients of alopecia areata

&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;Background:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;Alopecia areata (AA) is one of the common causes of localized hair loss among the patients attending the outpatient department. The objective of this study was to know the clinical and epidemiological profile of AA and to compare the efficacy of different topical treatment modalities in AA.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;Methods:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;100 patients of any age group and of both sexes presenting with AA to the dermatology outpatient department were included in this study. It was conducted as a randomized prospective study for a period of 12 weeks after taking an informed consent from the patient. After studying the clinical profile, patients were randomly distributed, excluding the age and sex bias into four treatment groups. Alopecia grading scale (AGS) was calculated at first visit and 12 weeks. Regrowth score (RGS) was calculated at 12 weeks. Treatment outcome in different groups were compared using mean AGS at 12 weeks and RGS.&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;Results:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;Group A patients showed statistically significant clinical improvement when compared to all the other groups. Poorest response was seen in Group D. Intermediate response was seen in Group B and C patients.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;The study concluded that topical 0.05% betamethasone dipropionate is the most effective treatment modality in patients with patchy AA (having &amp;lt;25% hair loss).&lt;/p&gt;

Profile of alopecia areata in 655 Chinese patients

Profile of alopecia areata in 655 Chinese patients

Profile of alopecia areata: analysis of 205 cases

Profile of alopecia areata: analysis of 205 cases

A case series of alopecia areata in children: impact of personal and family history of stress and autoimmunity

The epidemiology of alopecia areata (AA) is well documented in adults but has not been studied adequately in children. To evaluate the clinical and epidemiological profile of AA in children and assess the significance of thyroid screening. One hundred and fifty-seven children (83 boys, 74 girls, aged 1-16 years) who visited our clinic with a first episode of AA from 1996 to 2000 were retrospectively studied. One hundred children served as clinical controls. The age of peak incidence of AA was 0-5 years. The youngest child was 1 year old. In the majority of the cases (131/157, 83.4%) the disease was mild or moderate (less than 50% hair loss). In 15 patients (9.5%), AA was preceded by a stressful event. Five patients had a personal history of autoimmune disease (3.2 vs. 5% of the controls, (P = not significant [NS]) while 18 patients had a personal history of atopy (11.4 vs. 18% of the controls, P = NS). Twenty-one patients had a family history of autoimmune disease other than thyroiditis (13.4 vs. 5% of the controls, P = 0.04), while 23 patients had a family history of thyroid disorder (14.6 vs. 3% of the controls, P = 0.006). In eight patients (5%) subclinical hypothyroidism of autoimmune aetiology (Hashimoto's thyroiditis) was revealed at the time of investigation. Six out of the eight patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis had a family history of thyroid disorder, which was statistically significant when compared to AA patients without thyroiditis (P < 0.001). The severity of AA was associated with early age of onset of the disease (P = 0.02). The age of peak incidence of AA in children is 0-5 years. Children with AA have an increased family history of autoimmunity, and, among children with a first episode and short duration of AA (< 6 months), thyroid screening might be restricted in those with a positive family history of thyroid disorder. Thyroid screening should be routinely performed in all children with long-standing AA.

The pattern and profile of alopecia areata in Singapore--a study of 219 Asians.

Alopecia areata is believed to be an autoimmune condition with a worldwide occurrence. It usually presents as patchy, nonscarring hair loss. There is a paucity of clinical data in Asians. To study the epidemiology, clinical aspects, associations, and treatment of alopecia areata in an Asian population over a 1-year period. Records of all newly diagnosed alopecia areata cases seen from May 1998 to April 1999 at the National Skin Center were collated with regard to the epidemiology, pattern of alopecia, and associations according to the investigational guidelines published by Oslen et al. The treatment and psychologic impact of alopecia areata were also assessed. Two hundred and nineteen new case referrals of alopecia areata were seen from May 1998 to April 1999. The incidence of alopecia areata was 3.8%. There were 173 Chinese (79%), 35 Indians (16%), and 11 Malays (5.0%). The male to female ratio was 1 : 1.3. The median age at presentation was 25.2 years. The majority of patients (85.5%) had their first episode of alopecia areata before the age of 40 years. Of the patients with onset of alopecia areata before the age of 40 years, 36.5% presented with extensive alopecia, compared with 5.5% above the age of 40 years (P < 0.05). Nail changes, consisting of pitting, trachyonychia, and longitudinal ridging, were reported in 23 patients (10.5%). A significant percentage of patients had an associated personal and family history of atopy (60.7%). There was no significant association between a personal history of atopy and the extent of alopecia areata. The frequencies reported for the following associated diseases were: thyroid disease, 2.3%; vitiligo, 4.1%; diabetes mellitus, 3.2%; Down's syndrome, 1.4%; and rheumatic arthritis, 0.9%. A family history of alopecia areata was reported in 4.6%. Intralesional triamcinolone acetonide was the first-line treatment for limited alopecia areata, while squaric acid dibutyl ester was used for extensive involvement. The majority of patients with limited alopecia areata (82.1%) had more than 50% improvement with intralesional triamcinolone acetonide after 3 months. The majority of patients who received squaric acid dibutyl ester (87.5%) achieved more than 50% regrowth at the end of 6 months. Poor prognostic factors for alopecia areata were extensive involvement, early age of onset, and Down's syndrome. Thirteen out of 132 respondents (9.8%) recalled stressful events preceding hair loss. Patients with extensive alopecia areata experienced more psychologic adverse effects than those with limited alopecia areata (P < 0.05). Males with extensive alopecia areata experienced more severe psychologic ill-effects, such as depression and feelings of inability to improve hair loss. Our findings are similar to those reported in the Western literature where alopecia areata is predominantly a disease of the young. A holistic approach is important in the management of alopecia areata as the disease can have a severe psychologic impact on an individual's well-being.