Alopecia Areata in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Retrospective Analysis

This retrospective analysis examined the prevalence and clinical features of alopecia areata (AA) in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) at a large academic center, using data from the Mayo Clinic Health System database. Among 28,260 SOTRs, 21 met the inclusion criteria, resulting in an AA prevalence of 0.074%. The study found that AA in SOTRs often presented years after transplantation, with a median age of 48 years and a higher prevalence in females (61.9%). The study noted a potential link between tacrolimus, an immunosuppressant used by 85% of patients, and AA development. The prevalence of AA in SOTRs was lower than in the general US population, possibly due to the immunosuppressive regimens mitigating the autoimmune response. The study highlights the need for further research to understand AA in SOTRs better, given the small sample size and limitations such as single-center data and retrospective design.