title: Ocular alterations in patients of alopecia areata.
abstract: There is paucity of published work on ocular alterations in patients of alopecia areata (AA), especially from the Asian continent. We studied the clinical profile of 83 patients of AA and 80 sex- and age-matched controls to assess and compare the ocular changes, namely punctate opacities, cataract, intraocular tension and retinal changes. The outcome was analyzed with respect to prevalence of atopy, concomitant personal or family history of autoimmune diseases and nail changes in both the groups. The prevalence of atopy and family history of autoimmune diseases was significantly higher in the patient group. Lenticular changes were observed in 40.9% patients (including cataract in 16.9%) and 11.2% controls (P < 0.005). Within the patient group, lenticular involvement occurred with increased frequency in atopics (P = 0.034) and in the presence of family history of autoimmune diseases (P < 0.05). Retinal changes in the form of degenerative changes, pigmentary clumping and abnormal vascular changes were more prevalent (P < 0.001) in the study group. As the ocular changes were not found to correlate with the age, severity or extent of the disease, an initial ophthalmological screening of all patients is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and STD, University College of Medical Sciences, GTB Hospital, University of Delhi, Delhi 110095, India.
authors.forename: Deepika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pandhi
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singal
authors.forename: Ritika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Gopal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Das
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult