Increased ratio of helper to suppressor T cells in alopecia areata.
We studied lymphocyte subsets in the blood of twenty-four patients with alopecia areata of various degrees of severity. There was an increase in the ratio of helper to suppressor cells that correlated with the extent of the disease, providing further evidence that the immune system may be involved in its pathogenesis.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000473:pathology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000473:pathology*