TLDR The conclusion is that FFA and LPP have similar scalp biopsy features, making them hard to distinguish histologically, and FFA may be a specific kind of scarring hair loss.
The study analyzed scalp biopsies from 16 patients, 8 with Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) and 8 with lichen planopilaris (LPP), to compare their clinicopathological features. Results indicated that both conditions had similar histopathological findings, such as lymphocytic infiltrate and concentric fibrosis around hair follicles, but FFA presented with more apoptotic cells and less follicular inflammation than LPP. Additionally, FFA did not affect the interfollicular epidermis, which was sometimes involved in LPP cases. Direct immunofluorescence was negative in FFA but positive in some LPP cases. Despite these findings, the study concluded that there were no definitive histological differences to distinguish between FFA and LPP based solely on histology, and suggested that FFA might represent a specific type of lymphocytic cicatricial alopecia. However, the small sample size calls for further research to confirm these conclusions.
Cited in this study
5 / 5 results
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