Alopecia Areata and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Insights From a Nationwide Case-Control Study
May 2025
in “
International Journal of Dermatology
”
TLDR Alopecia areata patients are more likely to develop systemic lupus erythematosus.
This nationwide case-control study investigated the prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in patients with alopecia areata (AA) using data from 33,401 AA patients and 66,802 matched controls. The study found a significant association between AA and SLE, with an odds ratio of 3.63, indicating that AA patients are more likely to develop SLE compared to controls. The association was strongest among children, with an odds ratio of 4.00. The study highlights the importance of screening and monitoring AA patients for SLE, as well as the potential for early personalized treatment, particularly with Janus kinase inhibitors. Despite its strengths, the study is limited by the lack of subgroup analyses regarding AA severity and SLE types.