Tissue-specific autoantibodies and autoimmune disorders in vitiligo and alopecia areata: a retrospective study

We retrospectively analyzed our laboratory reports of tissue-specific autoantibodies (TSA) in 38 patients with alopecia areata (AA) and 31 patients with vitiligo. These reports were based on standard indirect immunofluorescence (IF) procedures, employing monkey tissues as substrates. One or more TSA were detected in 39% of serum samples. Thyroid (microsomal and/or thyroglobulin) antibodies had the highest occurrence rate and, as compared with the normal population, were detected at a greater frequency in both vitiligo and AA. Over half (58%) of our patients with vitiligo had one or more detectable TSA, while only 28% of patients with AA had such antibodies. When compared with the normal population, the occurrence rate of TSA was higher in patients with vitiligo. The only remarkable finding in AA was a higher than normal occurrence rate of antithyroid antibodies.