Alopecia Areata linked to Increased Risk of Celiac Disease, reports study
Researchers have found that alopecia areata (AA) (an autoimmune disease leading to hair loss), increases patients chances of developing celiac disease. A large cohort study was carried out, where it was determined that nearly twice the prevalence rate of celiac disease was found among AA patients compared to healthy controls. This study was conducted by Yonit W. and colleagues and was published in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology journal.
This study clarifies the association of AA with celiac disease by studying a large cohort. Data was collected from patients from 2005 to 2019. The report used medical records of 33,401 AA patients for screening on celiac disease and matched it with healthy controls of 66,802 patients across age and gender. Specifically, results looked into the incidence of celiac disease in AA patients, ascertaining if it was higher or lower compared to a control group.
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Among the AA group, the prevalence of celiac disease was observed in 1.1% of the patients, compared to 0.6% of the control group.
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This difference represented a nearly twofold increase, with an Odds Ratio (OR) of 1.95 and a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) of 1.69-2.25, indicating a statistically significant association between AA and celiac disease.
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Among the total of 754 the patients analyzed, 754 (0.85%) had a diagnosed case of celiac disease.
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The highest rate of celiac disease prevalence in AA patients was reported among those aged above 40.
In conclusion, the study suggests an association of AA with significantly increased risk for celiac disease. Early diagnostic measures in patients with AA over the age of 40 may play a significant role in preventing complications from undiagnosed celiac disease. These results identify a potential need for cross-screening strategies in clinical practice, which improves patient outcomes.
Reference:
Wohl, Y., Mashiah, J., Drutin, Y., & Ben-Tov, A. (2024). Celiac risk doubles in patients with alopecia areata: a nationwide case -control study. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. https://doi.org/10.1093/ced/llae489
