Monday 15 November 2010

MRCP revision battle 50.4: Alopecia

This is a topic close to many men's hearts - alopecia (=hair loss).

We will consider alopecia in 3 sections:
  1. autoimmune
  2. scarring
  3. non-scarring


Alopecia areata
  • Alopecia areata is thought to be an autoimmune condition in which there are 'patches' of hair loss.
  • hair regrows in 50% of sufferers within a year
  • hair regrows in 80-90% of sufferers eventually
  • it is associated with:
    • autoimmune thyroid disease
    • pernicious anaemia
    • addisons
    • vitiligo
    • nail dystrophy
    • cataracts
  • alopecia totalis refers to complete loss of all hair on scalp
  • alopecia universalis refers to loss of all body hair


Scarring alopecia

Causes of scarring alopecia include:
  • infections: TB, syphyllis
  • radiotherapy
  • sarcoidosis
  • lichen planus

Non-scarring alopecia

Causes of non-scarring alopecia include:
  • areata
  • hypopituitarism
  • hypo/hyper thyroidism
  • pregnancy
  • OCP
  • carbimazole
  • thiouracil
  • lithium
  • iron deficiency
  • chronic illness

 Next up... some discoid lupus...