Markers of Venous Thromboembolism Risk in Patients with Alopecia Areata: Is There Anything to Worry About?

The study investigated the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in 51 patients with alopecia areata compared to 26 healthy controls, focusing on markers like soluble fibrin monomer complex (SFMC), thrombin-antithrombin complex (TATC), and prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F1+2). Results indicated that alopecia areata patients had significantly higher levels of SFMC and F1+2, suggesting an increased VTE risk, but no correlation with alopecia severity, duration, or episodes was found. The study recommends regular VTE screening and preventive management for these patients, particularly when using systemic Janus kinase inhibitors or glucocorticoids, despite the limitation of a small sample size. Further research is suggested to explore the impact of treatment on thromboembolism markers in this population.