Is Helicobacter pylori infection associated with alopecia areata?
BACKGROUND
Alopecia areata (AA) is an immune-mediated form of hair loss that occurs in all ethnic groups, ages, and both sexes. Helicobacter pylori has been associated with certain extra-digestive dermatological conditions, including chronic urticaria, rosacea, Schönlein-Henoch purpura, Sweet syndrome, systemic sclerosis, and atopic dermatitis.


OBJECTIVE
The causal relation between alopecia areata and H. pylori is discussed. We have screened for the presence of H. pylori in patients with AA in order to determine any potential role in its pathophysiology.


METHODS
We have prospectively studied 31 patients with AA and 24 healthy volunteers of similar gender for the presence of H. pylori surface antigen (HpSag) in stool.


RESULTS
Optical density values for H. pylori infection were positive in 18 of all 31 patients evaluated (58.1%), while in 13 patients, values did not support H. pylori infection (41.9%). While in the control group, 10 of 24 (41.7%) had positive results. Within the group of AA, there was no significant difference between HpSag-positive and HpSag-negative patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on these results, the relation between H. pylori and AA is not supported. We advise that H. pylori detection should not be included in the laboratory workup of AA.
Abdel-Hafez
Hisham Zayan
HZ
Department of Dermatology, Assiut University Hospital, Assiut, Egypt. hishamzayan@yahoo.com
Mahran
Ayman Mohamed
AM
Hofny
Eman R M
ER
Attallah
Dalia Abdel Aziz
DA
Sayed
Doaa Sameer
DS
Rashed
Hebat-Allah G
HA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult