Non-organ-specific autoimmunity in alopecia

A significantly high prevalence (41%) of non-organ-specific autoantibodies, tested in immunofluorescence with sera diluted 1:40, is reported in sera from 86 alopecia patients. No correlation was found with extension and duration of the disease, topical treatment with contact agents or response to it. The relevance and significance of these findings, with particular reference to anti-smooth muscle and anti-basal cell layer antibodies, is discussed.