Comorbidity in Patients with Alopecia Areata

The study, conducted on 132 patients with varying severities of Alopecia Areata (AA), aimed to understand the impact of comorbid disorders on the course of AA, particularly focusing on vitamin D levels. The research found that patients with moderate and severe AA had significantly lower levels of vitamin D (32.67 ± 0.91 nmol/l and 32.9 ± 0.84 nmol/l respectively) compared to those with a mild course of the disease (56.75 ± 0.62 nmol/l). The study also revealed that comorbid autoimmune and allergic disorders, such as atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, and autoimmune thyroiditis, which share similar pathogenetic mechanisms with AA, can affect the course of AA. The researchers suggested that these comorbidities should be considered and corrected by specialists. They also highlighted the potential role of vitamin D as a comorbid factor and predictor of AA activity, and the usefulness of trichoscopy as a diagnostic tool for AA.