Authors
1
College of Medicine /University of Baghdad/ Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Baghdad, Iraq .
2
Dermatology Center/ Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq .
,
Document Type : Research Paper
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Alopecia areata is a common type of non-scarring hair loss. The typical clinical features are well circumscribed bald patches. Vitiligo is an acquired skin disease of progressive melanocyte loss which is clinically characterized by well-defined milky-white macules. alopecia areata and vitiligo are observed with other autoimmune diseases .among these diseases, the chance of coexistence with autoimmune thyroid diseases is high.
OBJECTIVE:
To determine whether vitiligo or alopecia areata has statistically significant association with subclinical thyroid dysfunction.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
This case control study wascarried out on 69 vitiligo, 69 alopecia areata patients and 75 sex and age matched control. Serum samples from both patients and control were collected and assayed for triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) then we compared the results between cases and control.
RESULTS:
Thyroid functional abnormalities were found in 18.8%, 13% of vitiligo and alopecia areata patients respectively, subclinical hypothyroidism constitutes 78%, 69% of them respectively .however when were compared with control group, there are no statistically significant differences in thyroid dysfunction between vitiligo or alopecia areata and control.
CONCLUSION:
There is no statistically significant difference in thyroid dysfunction between vitiligo or alopecia areata and control. Thyroid function test is unnecessary for alopecia areata or vitiligo patients unless the patient had signs and symptoms of thyroid disease, old age or severe clinical subtype of disease.
.
- Strazzulla LC, Wang EHC, Avila L, Sicco KL, Brinster N, Christiano AM, et al. Alopecia areata: Disease characteristics, clinical evaluation, and new perspectives on pathogenesis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018;78:1–12.
- Chu, S. Y., Chen, Y. J., Tseng, W. C., Lin, M. W., Chen, T. J., Hwang, C. Y., ... & Liu, H. N.. Comorbidity profiles among patients with alopecia areata: the importance of onset age, a nationwide population-based study. JAAD, 2011;65: 949-56.
- Bin Saif GA. Severe subtype of alopecia areata is highly associated with thyroid autoimmunity. Saudi Med J 2016; 37: 656–61.
- Bakry, O. A., Basha, M. A., El Shafiee, M. K., & Shehata, W. A. (2014). Thyroid disorders associated with alopecia areata in Egyptian patients. Indian journal of dermatology, 59(1), 49
- Kasumagić-Halilović E. Thyroid autoimmunity in patients with alopecia areata. Acta Dermatovenerol Croat. 2008;16:123–25.
- Khaled Ezzedine & John E. Harris, Sewon Kang, MD, MPH Masayuki Amagai, MD, PhD(Eds.) , Fitzpatricks dermatology, ninth edition.2019;1330- 50.
- Alkhateeb A, Fain PR, Thody A, Bennett DC, Spritz RA. Epidemiology of vitiligo and associated autoimmune diseases in Caucasian probands and their relatives. Pigment Cell Res. 2003;16:208–14.
- McLeod DS, Cooper DS. The incidence and prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity. Endocrine 2012;42:252–65.
- Yuan, J., Sun, C., Jiang, S., Lu, Y., Zhang, Y., Gao, X. H., ... & Chen, H. D.. The prevalence of thyroid disorders in patients with vitiligo: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2019;9: 803.
- Rahnama Z, Farajzadeh S, Mohamamdi S, Mqasoudi MA. Prevalence of thyroid disorders in patients with alopecia areata. Journal of Pakistan Association of Dermatology. 2016;24:246-50.
Saylam Kurtipek, G., Cihan, F. G., Erayman Demirbaş, Ş., & Ataseven, A. (2015). The frequency of autoimmune thyroid disease in alopecia areata and vitiligo patients. BioMed ResearchInternational, 2015, 435947.
- Goh C, Finkel M, Christos P, Sinha A. Profile of 513 patients with alopecia areata: associations of disease subtypes with atopy, autoimmune disease and positive family history. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2006;20:1055–60.
- Sharquie KE, Noaimi AA, Mohsin SY .Frequency of autoimmune diseases and estimation of P53 marker among vitiligo patients.thesis for fellowship of Iraqi board for Medical Specializations in Dermatology and Venereology. (2011).
- Jishna, P.; Binitha, M.; Anilakumari, V. Prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies in vitiligo patients. Int J Res Dermatol, 2017;3.1: 140-4
- Kroon MW, Joore IC, Wind BS, Leloup MA, Wolkerstorfer A, et al. Low yield of routine screening for thyroid dysfunction in asymptomatic patients with vitiligo. Br J Dermatol. 2012; 166:532-38.
)
