Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a common acquired hair disorder showing variable hair loss. Although various prognostic factors have been reported, no evident factors for determining prognosis and appropriate treatment are known.
Objective: To identify prognostic factors in AA patients, especially those with positive results for the hair-pull test on the first visit or with a history of rapidly progressive AA (RPAA) within 6 months prior to the first visit.
Methods: One thousand thirty (1030) patients diagnosed with AA at Tokyo Medical University Hospital were retrospectively examined for 3 years, and their prognosis was assessed on the basis of various indices using multivariate analysis.
Results: Patients with regenerated vellus hairs showed a significantly higher improvement or cure rate regardless of severity. Early onset and lengthy duration were significantly associated with lower cure, and higher relapse, rates. RPAA patients tended to show a good prognosis regardless of the treatment employed.
Limitations: The present study is retrospective, and treatment modalities were chosen according to clinical and social circumstances.
Conclusion: RPAA patients tend to show a favorable prognosis regardless of treatment modality. Furthermore, the presence of regenerated vellus hairs may indicate a good prognosis.
Copyright © 2012 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.