Alopecia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Alopecia, including details on hair loss, baldness, treatment, causes, prevention.

Loss-of-function mutations in the filaggrin gene and alopecia areata: strong risk factor for a severe course of disease in patients comorbid for atopic disease.

Betz RC, Pforr J, Flaquer A, Redler S, Hanneken S, Eigelshoven S, Kortüm AK, Tüting T, Lambert J, De Weert J, Hillmer AM, Schmael C, Wienker TF, Kruse R, Lutz G, Blaumeiser B, Nöthen MM

Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. regina.betz@uni-bonn.de

Alopecia areata (AA) is a common dermatological disease, which affects nearly 2% of the general population. Association of AA with atopic disease has been repeatedly reported. Loss-of-function mutations in the filaggrin gene (FLG) may be considered as promising candidates in AA, as they have been observed to be a strong risk factor in atopic dermatitis. The FLG mutations R501X and 2282del4 were genotyped in a large sample of AA patients (n=449) and controls (n=473). Although no significant association was observed in the patient sample overall, FLG mutations were significantly associated with the presence of atopic dermatitis among AA patients. Furthermore, the presence of FLG mutations had a strong impact on the clinical course of AA in comorbid patients. For example, 19 of the 22 mutation carriers among AA patients with atopic dermatitis showed a severe form of the disease (P=0.003; odds ratio (OR)=5.47 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.59-18.76)). In conclusion, our data suggest that when AA occurs in conjunction with FLG-associated atopic disorder, the clinical presentation of AA may be more severe.

Published 15 October 2007 in J Invest Dermatol, 127(11): 2539-43.
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