Tehran University Medical Journal (Mar 2011)
Prevalence of anti-gliadin antibody in patients with alopecia areata: a case-control study
Abstract
"n Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1":*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Background: Alopecia areata, a non-cicatricial form of hair loss, is believed to be an immunologic response that targets hair follicles. Genetic background is important in the pathogenesis of this disorder, although some evidence point to the role of melanocytic antigens. There are some reports on the relationship between alopecia areata and celiac disease. The aim of the present study was to identify antigliadin antibodies in patients with alopecia areata. "n"nMethods: Fifty patients, aged 2.5-50 years, with alopecia areata presenting to the dermatology clinic of Razi Educational Hospital in Tehran, Iran, and fifty healthy individuals, aged 5-48 were matched and enrolled in the study. After signing an informed consent form, blood samples (10 ml clotted blood) were obtained from the participants and sent to referral laboratory for the presence of antigliadin IgA and IgG antibodies. Concentrations of antibodies were measured by ELISA through a full automatic ELISA reader. The data were analyzed statistically."n"nResults: The study included 29(58%) male and 21(42%) female patients with a mean age of 24.6 years. The control group included 29(58%) male and 21(42%) female individuals with a mean age of 24 years. In the case group, 9(18%) patients were positive for antigliadin antibody, while only one (2%) individual was positive for the antibody in the control group (p<0.001). No other differences were of statistical significance."n"nConclusions: Regarding the higher prevalence of antigliadin antibodies in patients with alopecia areata, it would be wise to screen the patients for celiac disease.
