[Alopecia areata--an autoimmune disorder?]

The authors indicated examinations of actual immune states in 42 patients with alopecia areata in whom no cause of the disease was stated. The examination revealed a deficit in the cellular component of immunity and an increased level of immunoglobulin M and C3 component of complement. The examination of these patients included also the direct immunofluorescence examination of a skin excision from the alopetic focus. Out of 43 examined patients 30 had positive immunocomplex findings. Immunocomplexes were most frequently constituted of M immunoglobulin, C3 component of complement, as well as of A and G immunoglobulins. Immunocomplexes were localized in the lower and sometimes in the medium part of the folicle or perifolicullary, the intensity of fluorescence depended on the severeness of the disease. The deficit in the cellular component of immunity, dysimmunoglobulinemia in the peripheral blood and a positive immunocomplex findings in hair folicles at the examination of skin excisions from the alopetic focus by means of direct immunofluorescent method enables to include the disease of alopecia areata among autoimmune disease. The conclusion deals with the possibilities of utilization of local and general immunomodulation therapy. (Tab. 2, Fig. 1, Ref. 20.)