Onset of alopecia areata after Epstein-Barr virus infectious mononucleosis.
BACKGROUND
The pathogenesis of alopecia areata (AA) is incompletely known. A positive family history in some points to a genetic predisposition, and discordance of the disease in identical twins suggests environmental triggers exist.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine whether the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a possible environmental trigger for AA.


METHODS
We queried the National AA Registry for all patients who self-reported sudden onset of AA with concurrent EBV mononucleosis.


RESULTS
Among the 6256 individuals registered between December 2001 and August 2007, 1586 patients reported an environmental trigger-including 12 individuals who had an EBV infection within 6 months before the onset of AA.


CONCLUSIONS
This study relies on self-reported data, and not all medical records confirming EBV infections were available for review.


CONCLUSIONS
The association between EBV and AA is worthy of further investigation.
Rodriguez
Thomas A
TA
Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030-4009, USA.
Duvic
Madeleine
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology