TLDR Osteopontin may play a role in alopecia areata, but its levels don't predict treatment success.
The study investigated the role of osteopontin (OPN), a multifunctional glycophosphoprotein, in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata (AA), a non-scarring hair loss condition with an autoimmune basis. Researchers measured plasma OPN levels in AA patients before and after treatment with diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP). They found that OPN levels were higher in AA patients compared to healthy controls. However, patients who achieved complete recovery after DPCP treatment did not exhibit a statistically significant reduction in OPN levels, suggesting that while OPN might be involved in AA pathogenesis, its levels did not correlate with treatment success.
40 citations
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April 2013 in “Dermato-endocrinology” People with chronic Alopecia Areata often have lower vitamin D levels.
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October 2011 in “International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology” DPCP treatment improved hair regrowth and increased new capillaries in alopecia areata patients.
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July 2011 in “Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology” The document concludes that proper diagnosis and FDA-approved treatments for different types of hair loss exist, but treatments for severe cases often fail and future improvements may focus on hair follicle stem cells.
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January 2010 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” The document says current treatments for alopecia areata do not cure or prevent it, and it's hard to judge their effectiveness due to spontaneous remission and lack of studies.
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January 2015 in “PubMed” Osteopontin may play a role in alopecia areata, but its levels don't predict treatment success.
