Resumen
Definición
Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the hair follicles resulting in nonscarring hair loss, affecting scalp and body hair.[1][2] Typically, one or more small round patch of hair loss without atrophy is noticed. This patchy hair loss may regrow spontaneously. In other cases there can be extensive patchy hair loss and in rare cases there is total body hair loss (alopecia areata universalis), or total scalp hair loss (alopecia totalis).
[Figure caption and citation for the preceding image starts]: Alopecia areataProvided by Paradi Mirmirani, MD [Citation ends].
Anamnesis y examen
Principales factores de diagnóstico
- hair loss
- nonscarring alopecia
- exclamation point hairs
- normal underlying skin in bare areas
- nail pitting
Otros factores de diagnóstico
- autoimmunity
Factores de riesgo
- autoimmune disease
- family history of autoimmune disease
Pruebas diagnósticas
Primeras pruebas diagnósticas para solicitar
- clinical diagnosis
- positive hair pull test
Pruebas diagnósticas que deben considerarse
- skin biopsy
- trichoscopy
Algoritmo de tratamiento
limited hair loss (treatment desired)
limited hair loss (no treatment desired)
extensive hair loss (treatment desired)
extensive hair loss (no treatment desired)
Colaboradores
Autores
Fong Seng Lim, MBBS, MMed (FM), FAMS
Senior Consultant
Department of Family Medicine
National University Health System
Singapore
Divulgaciones
FSL declares that he has no competing interests.
Miny Samuel, PhD
Assistant Director
Research Support Unit
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
National University of Singapore
Singapore
Divulgaciones
MS declares that she has no competing interests.
Agradecimientos
Dr Fong Seng Lim and Dr Miny Samuel would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Richard A. Strick, Dr Jack Green, and Dr Paradi Mirmirani, previous contributors to this topic. RAS is an honorary member of the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) clinical scientific advisory board. JG is an author of a reference cited in this topic. PM declares that he has no competing interests.
Revisores por pares
Maria Hordinsky, MD
Professor and Chair
Department of Dermatology
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis
MN
Divulgaciones
MH declares that she has no competing interests.
Ralph M. Trueb, MD
Associate Professor
Department of Dermatology
University Hospital of Zurich
Zurich
Switzerland
Divulgaciones
RMT is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.
Agradecimiento de los revisores por pares
Los temas de BMJ Best Practice se actualizan de forma continua de acuerdo con los desarrollos en la evidencia y en las guías. Los revisores por pares listados aquí han revisado el contenido al menos una vez durante la historia del tema.
Divulgaciones
Las afiliaciones y divulgaciones de los revisores por pares se refieren al momento de la revisión.
Referencias
Artículos principales
Olsen EA, Hordinsky MK, Price VH, et al. Alopecia areata investigational assessment guidelines: part II. National Alopecia Areata Foundation. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004;51:440-447. Resumen
Hordinsky MK. Medical treatment of noncicatricial alopecia. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2006;25:51-55. Resumen
Messenger AG, McKillop J, Farrant P, et al. British Association of Dermatologists' guidelines for the management of alopecia areata 2012. Br J Dermatol. 2012;166:916-926. Resumen
Artículos de referencia
Una lista completa de las fuentes a las que se hace referencia en este tema está disponible para los usuarios con acceso a todo BMJ Best Practice.
Diferenciales
- Trichotillomania
- Tinea capitis
- Telogen effluvium
Más DiferencialesGuías de práctica clínica
- British Association of Dermatologists' guidelines for the management of alopecia areata 2012
- Alopecia areata investigational assessment guidelines: part II
Más Guías de práctica clínicaPatient information
Alopecia areata
More Patient information
Log in or subscribe to access all of BMJ Best Practice
Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer