Insulin Resistance Is Increased in Alopecia Areata Patients

The study conducted from February 2009 to December 2010 included 51 patients with alopecia areata (AA) and 36 controls, finding that AA patients had significantly higher levels of insulin, c-peptide, and Homeostasis Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), as well as higher blood pressure and a greater prevalence of hyperinsulinemia and metabolic syndrome. The study concluded that insulin resistance is increased in AA patients, which may be related to higher levels of inflammatory cytokines and activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, although these were not directly measured. Further research with larger sample sizes was recommended to explore the potential immunopathogenetic link between AA and IR.