title: Serum holotranscobalamine, vitamin B12, folic acid and homocysteine levels in alopecia areata patients.
abstract: Alopecia areata has been associated with many autoimmune diseases. There is a common belief that the prevalence of pernicious anemia is increased in patients with alopecia areata. In this study, we sought to investigate vitamin B12, folate and homocysteine metabolism in alopecia areata. We measured holotranscobalamine (holoTC), vitamin B12, folate and homocysteine levels in 75 patients with alopecia areata and 54 controls. We did not find any significant differences in these parameters between these groups. We think that alopecia areata may not be associated with vitamin B12 deficiency. The co-occurrence of pernicious anemia and alopecia areata in rare autoimmune syndromes, may not justify routine measurements of these parameters in alopecia areata patients.
authors.affiliation: Ankara Kecioren Research and Training Hospital, Internal Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. dertaner@gmail.com
authors.forename: Derun Taner
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Ertugrul
authors.forename: Ayse Serap
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Karadag
authors.forename: Zennure
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Takci
authors.forename: Serap Gunes
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Bilgili
authors.forename: Hatice Uce
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Ozkol
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tutal
authors.forename: Kadir Okhan
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Akin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014155:Transcobalamins / Q000032:analysis; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D014155:Transcobalamins; D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12