TLDR Pemphigus patients with alopecia have more severe and treatment-resistant disease.
This prospective observational study included 80 patients with confirmed pemphigus, of whom 11 (13.8%) had pemphigus‐associated alopecia. The study found that patients with pemphigus‐associated alopecia had significantly higher Pemphigus Disease Area Index total activity scores (21.8 ± 18.6) compared to those without alopecia (11.0 ± 20.5; P = 0.02). Additionally, these patients had higher mean serum anti‐desmoglein (Dsg)1 and anti‐Dsg3 antibody concentrations (141.8 ± 66.9 U/mL and 126.6 ± 36.7 U/mL, respectively) compared to those without alopecia (60.0 ± 52.6 U/mL and 67.4 ± 52.5 U/mL, respectively; P = 0.03 for both). The study concluded that pemphigus‐associated alopecia is a marker of severe and treatment-resistant disease.
7 citations,
July 2017 in “The Journal of Dermatology” Hair loss can occur when pemphigus foliaceus changes to pemphigus vulgaris.
9 citations,
June 2017 in “Journal of Cutaneous Pathology” People with pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus often have smaller sebaceous glands on their scalp.
23 citations,
November 2011 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” Hair loss is a rare but recognized symptom of pemphigus vulgaris, with patients usually regrowing hair after treatment.
7 citations,
July 2019 in “Clinics in Dermatology” Hair loss can indicate or worsen with systemic diseases, and treating the underlying condition is important.
13 citations,
January 2018 in “BioMed Research International” Scalp involvement is common in pemphigus and can lead to hair loss, with the severity of scalp lesions linked to overall disease severity.
October 2022 in “JAAD international” Most patients with autoimmune blistering diseases experienced some hair loss, which may be underreported and linked to disease severity.
23 citations,
December 2014 in “Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia” Trichoscopy helps tell apart scalp lesions in pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus and is useful for choosing biopsy locations.
9 citations,
June 2017 in “Journal of Cutaneous Pathology” People with pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus often have smaller sebaceous glands on their scalp.
