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KMID : 0363220200580060397
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Korean Journal of Dermatology
2020 Volume.58 No. 6 p.397 ~ p.405
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Characteristics and Prognosis of Alopecia Areata in Different Age Groups: A Retrospective Long-term Follow-up Study
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Jo Sun-Young
Go Jae-Wan
Heo Eun-Phil
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Abstract
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Background: Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that presents as non-scarring hair loss and can affect all age groups. The clinical course of alopecia areata is unpredictable.
Objective: This study aimed to analyze the characteristics, treatment response, and relapse rate of alopecia areata in patients of different ages with long-term follow-up.
Methods: The medical records of 121 patients diagnosed with alopecia areata were retrospectively reviewed, and their prognosis was assessed on the basis of various indices.
Results: A total of 121 patients, including 24 cases of childhood-onset, 83 adult-onset, and 14 late-onset alopecia areata, were analyzed. In the first episode, 72.7%, 14.7%, and 9.9% of patients had mild, moderate, and severe alopecia areata, respectively. A significant and complete response was observed in 66.7%, 89.2%, and 100% of childhood-onset, adult-onset, and late-onset patients, respectively. The duration of the initial episode showed a negative correlation with age. The overall frequency of relapse was 47.1%, whichc significantly declined with time, with a majority (63.3%) of relapses occurring in the first year. Younger age at initial presentation and thyroid diseases were strongly associated with poor prognosis.
Conclusion: Younger patients showed a tendency of poor prognosis regardless of the prognostic factors. A longer follow-up period might be required for the younger onset patients.
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KEYWORD
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Age of onset, Alopecia areata, Prognosis
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