Histopathological and Topical Immunological Changes in Alopecia
September 1998
in “
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology
”
scarring alopecia non-scarring alopecia histological examination scalp skin biopsy immunophenotyping autoimmune processes inflammatory processes lymphocyte exocytosis epidermis vacuolization spinous cells edema papillary dermis collagen hyalinosis deep dermis upper subcutis T8 cells Langerhans' cells catagen stage monocytes hair follicles scarring alopecia non-scarring alopecia skin biopsy immune cell profiling autoimmune inflammation lymphocyte skin layer cell swelling skin cells swelling collagen hyaline deep skin layer subcutaneous tissue T8 immune cells Langerhans cells hair growth phase white blood cells hair roots
TLDR Autoimmune and inflammatory processes are involved in both scarring and non-scarring types of hair loss.
The document presents a study aimed at understanding the pathogenesis of scarring and non-scarring alopeciae. A total of 31 patients (16 women and 15 men) suffering from these conditions were investigated through histological examination of scalp skin biopsy specimens and immunophenotyping of cell subpopulations. The study found evidence of autoimmune and inflammatory processes in both scarring and non-scarring alopeciae, indicated by changes such as lymphocyte exocytosis into the epidermis, vacuolization of spinous cells, edema of the papillary dermis collagen, hyalinosis of the deep dermis and upper subcutis, and a high quantity of T8 cells and Langerhans' cells in the epidermis. Additionally, more than 50% of follicles were in the catagen stage, and there were traces of monocytes in the hair follicles. These findings suggest that autoimmune and inflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of these types of alopecia.
