[Abnormalities of structure and function of the thyroid in patients with alopecia areata]

In 85 patients with alopecia areata the frequency of thyroid disease was assessed on the basis of history data, clinical examination and determination of T3, T4, TSH and presence of antithyroid antibodies of different specificity (ATMA, ATg, AMD). Among these patients abnormalities of thyroid structure and function were significantly more frequent (78%) than in the control group (33%). In 11% of the patients autoimmune thyroid disease was present (Graves-Basdow disease, Hashimoto thyroiditis). In 86 controls no cases of autoimmune diseases were found. In some patients only a slight enlargement of the thyroid was present (grade OB, I.).