The Genetics of Alopecia Areata: What's New and How Will It Help Our Patients?

Alopecia areata (AA) was identified as the most prevalent autoimmune disease in the United States, affecting approximately 5.3 million people. Despite its high prevalence, there was limited information on its pathogenesis and no evidence-based treatments. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified at least eight genomic regions associated with AA, highlighting specific genes linked to other autoimmune diseases with existing or developing targeted therapies. These genetic insights paved the way for developing novel therapeutic approaches and marked the beginning of translational research in AA based on genetic findings.