Premature Desquamation of the Inner Root Sheath in Noninflamed Hair Follicles as a Specific Marker for Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia

The study "Premature Desquamation of the Inner Root Sheath in Noninflamed Hair Follicles as a Specific Marker for Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia" conducted a retrospective analysis on 501 cases of alopecia. The researchers found that premature desquamation of the inner root sheath (PDIRS) was identified in all alopecia subtypes evaluated. However, PDIRS in noninflamed follicles was found in 73% (81/111) of Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA) cases, making it a relatively specific marker for this condition. The presence of PDIRS in at least one noninflamed hair follicle correlated with a diagnosis of CCCA with a sensitivity of 73% and a specificity of 98% (P-value <0.0001).