Comorbidities common with alopecia areata

(HealthDay)—Comorbid conditions often accompany alopecia areata, according to a study published online May 22 in JAMA Dermatology.

Kathie P. Huang, M.D., from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and colleagues retrospectively identified 3,568 individuals with alopecia areata seen in the Partners health care system (2000 through 2010). A novel artificial intelligence program was trained and validated through manual review of medical records.

The researchers found that common comorbid conditions included autoimmune diagnoses (thyroid disease in 14.6 percent, diabetes mellitus in 11.1 percent, inflammatory bowel disease in 6.3 percent, systemic lupus erythematosus in 4.3 percent, rheumatoid arthritis in 3.9 percent, and psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in 2.0 percent); atopy (allergic rhinitis, asthma, and/or eczema in 38.2 percent and contact dermatitis and other eczema in 35.9 percent); and mental health problems (depression or anxiety in 25.5 percent). High prevalence of hyperlipidemia (24.5 percent), hypertension (21.9 percent), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (17.3 percent) were also seen. A comparison psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis group yielded a different profile.

"Physicians caring for patients with alopecia areata should consider screening for comorbid conditions," the authors write.

One author disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

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