Assessment of Thyroid Dysfunction and Cortisol Levels in Patients with Alopecia Areata
Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a complex, multifactorial autoimmune disease in which a person's genetic predisposition plays a significant role. Alopecia areata has been linked to various autoimmune conditions. There is a significant likelihood that autoimmune thyroid disorders will coexi...
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College of Medicine University of Baghdad
2025-04-01
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| Series: | مجلة كلية الطب |
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| Online Access: | https://www.iqjmc.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/19JFacMedBaghdad36/article/view/2506 |
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| author | Baneen S Qasim Talib A. Hussein Hadeel J. Hasan Alfatla |
| author_facet | Baneen S Qasim Talib A. Hussein Hadeel J. Hasan Alfatla |
| author_sort | Baneen S Qasim |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a complex, multifactorial autoimmune disease in which a person's genetic predisposition plays a significant role. Alopecia areata has been linked to various autoimmune conditions. There is a significant likelihood that autoimmune thyroid disorders will coexist with these conditions.
Objectives: To determine the association between alopecia areata and subclinical thyroid dysfunction, and to assess serum cortisol levels and their relationship with AA.
Methods: The case-control study, conducted at the Dermatology Center of Baghdad Teaching Hospital from October 2023 to February 2024, involved 80 AA patients and 40 healthy controls. Thyroid hormones and cortisol levels were measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.
Results: The mean age of AA patients was (29.4±10.49) years compared to (30.1±8.77) years in controls, with no statistically significant difference (p=0.75). Serum T3 levels were significantly higher in AA patients (1.5 ± 0.04 ng/ml) compared to controls (1.4 ± 0.03 ng/ml, p=0.03), though all values remained within the normal range. In contrast, no significant differences were observed in T4 levels (8.4 ± 0.21 vs. 8.7 ± 0.16 μg/dl, p=0.25) or TSH levels (1.7 ± 0.11 vs. 1.6 ± 0.08 μIU/ml, p=0.31) for the AA and controls respectively. Serum cortisol levels were significantly higher in AA patients (11.1 ± 0.52 ng/dl) compared to controls (8.6 ± 0.23 ng/dl, p<0.0001). However, all measured cortisol levels in both groups remained within the normal reference range.
Conclusion: Significant differences in T3 and cortisol levels exist between alopecia patients and controls, suggesting hormonal involvement in AA. No significant differences were found in T4 and TSH levels, requiring further investigation
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-189aef4744c14a4fbdf32f3da00a2f23 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0041-9419 2410-8057 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | College of Medicine University of Baghdad |
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| series | مجلة كلية الطب |
| spelling | doaj-art-189aef4744c14a4fbdf32f3da00a2f232025-08-20T03:04:23ZengCollege of Medicine University of Baghdadمجلة كلية الطب0041-94192410-80572025-04-0167110.32007/jfacmedbaghdad2506Assessment of Thyroid Dysfunction and Cortisol Levels in Patients with Alopecia AreataBaneen S Qasim0https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8539-0248Talib A. Hussein1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4747-0101Hadeel J. Hasan Alfatla2https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3703-698XDepartment of Biology, College of Science for Women, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.Department of Biology, College of Science for Women, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.Baghdad Dermatology Training Center, Baghdad, Iraq. Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a complex, multifactorial autoimmune disease in which a person's genetic predisposition plays a significant role. Alopecia areata has been linked to various autoimmune conditions. There is a significant likelihood that autoimmune thyroid disorders will coexist with these conditions. Objectives: To determine the association between alopecia areata and subclinical thyroid dysfunction, and to assess serum cortisol levels and their relationship with AA. Methods: The case-control study, conducted at the Dermatology Center of Baghdad Teaching Hospital from October 2023 to February 2024, involved 80 AA patients and 40 healthy controls. Thyroid hormones and cortisol levels were measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Results: The mean age of AA patients was (29.4±10.49) years compared to (30.1±8.77) years in controls, with no statistically significant difference (p=0.75). Serum T3 levels were significantly higher in AA patients (1.5 ± 0.04 ng/ml) compared to controls (1.4 ± 0.03 ng/ml, p=0.03), though all values remained within the normal range. In contrast, no significant differences were observed in T4 levels (8.4 ± 0.21 vs. 8.7 ± 0.16 μg/dl, p=0.25) or TSH levels (1.7 ± 0.11 vs. 1.6 ± 0.08 μIU/ml, p=0.31) for the AA and controls respectively. Serum cortisol levels were significantly higher in AA patients (11.1 ± 0.52 ng/dl) compared to controls (8.6 ± 0.23 ng/dl, p<0.0001). However, all measured cortisol levels in both groups remained within the normal reference range. Conclusion: Significant differences in T3 and cortisol levels exist between alopecia patients and controls, suggesting hormonal involvement in AA. No significant differences were found in T4 and TSH levels, requiring further investigation https://www.iqjmc.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/19JFacMedBaghdad36/article/view/2506Alopecia areataAutoimmune diseaseCortisolThyroid function testTSH |
| spellingShingle | Baneen S Qasim Talib A. Hussein Hadeel J. Hasan Alfatla Assessment of Thyroid Dysfunction and Cortisol Levels in Patients with Alopecia Areata مجلة كلية الطب Alopecia areata Autoimmune disease Cortisol Thyroid function test TSH |
| title | Assessment of Thyroid Dysfunction and Cortisol Levels in Patients with Alopecia Areata |
| title_full | Assessment of Thyroid Dysfunction and Cortisol Levels in Patients with Alopecia Areata |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Thyroid Dysfunction and Cortisol Levels in Patients with Alopecia Areata |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Thyroid Dysfunction and Cortisol Levels in Patients with Alopecia Areata |
| title_short | Assessment of Thyroid Dysfunction and Cortisol Levels in Patients with Alopecia Areata |
| title_sort | assessment of thyroid dysfunction and cortisol levels in patients with alopecia areata |
| topic | Alopecia areata Autoimmune disease Cortisol Thyroid function test TSH |
| url | https://www.iqjmc.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/19JFacMedBaghdad36/article/view/2506 |
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