0
0
Bonn, Germany – January 10, 2025
A groundbreaking study has shed light on risk factors contributing to poor outcomes in alopecia areata (AA), a common autoimmune condition that causes sudden, circular hair loss. Published in the journal Allergy, the research highlights the significant role of chronic inflammatory diseases in shaping the clinical course of AA.
While the progression of AA varies widely among individuals, researchers have long suspected an association between the disease and co-existing chronic inflammatory conditions. However, studies focusing on the impact of these comorbidities on AA in large patient populations have been scarce—until now.
Largest Global Cohort Study on AA
Through a collaboration between dermatologists, patient support groups, and human geneticists in Bonn, a team of researchers assembled one of the world’s largest cohorts of AA patients. Over the past two decades, the study recruited approximately 3,000 individuals with genetic data and detailed clinical self-reports. Remarkably, more than half of the participants reported suffering from an additional chronic inflammatory disease.
“This dataset represents an unparalleled resource for exploring the genetic and clinical aspects of AA,” said Prof. Regina Betz, from the University of Bonn’s Institute of Human Genetics and a member of the Transdisciplinary Research Area “Life & Health.”
Dr. Buket Basmanav, leader of the Cure4HAIR project and co-author of the study, emphasized the study’s scale and significance: “To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive analysis linking the clinical features of AA to concomitant chronic inflammatory diseases.”
Asthma and Other Comorbidities Linked to Poor AA Outcomes
The research revealed that patients with comorbid inflammatory diseases, including atopic dermatitis, bronchial asthma, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rhinitis, and vitiligo, experienced worse AA outcomes. Specifically, those with asthma, atopic dermatitis, or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis were significantly more likely to report early-onset, severe, and long-lasting hair loss.
Lead researcher Annika Friedrich, Ph.D. student at the University of Bonn, noted a particularly striking finding: “This is the first report in the literature identifying comorbid asthma as a major risk factor for poor prognostic outcomes in AA.”
Patients with multiple atopic conditions faced even greater risks. The study found that the mean age of AA onset was nearly a decade earlier in individuals with three atopic conditions—such as asthma, atopic dermatitis, and rhinitis—compared to those without inflammatory comorbidities.
Implications for Clinical Management
The researchers believe their findings underscore the need for tailored approaches to managing AA. Dr. Basmanav remarked, “We consider this as indirect evidence that atopic diseases may trigger AA in certain patients.”
Prof. Betz added, “Our results suggest that AA patients with chronic inflammatory comorbidities, especially asthma, atopic dermatitis, or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, could benefit from earlier therapeutic intervention and more frequent clinical monitoring.”
This study offers critical insights into the interplay between AA and inflammatory diseases, paving the way for improved prognostic tools and personalized treatment strategies.
For more details, refer to the original publication:
Annika Friedrich et al, Comorbid Bronchial Asthma, Atopic Dermatitis and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Are Risk Factors for Early‐Onset, Severe and Prolonged Alopecia Areata, Allergy (2025). DOI: 10.1111/all.16468
