Case Report
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 14, 2011; 17(26): 3165-3170
Published online Jul 14, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i26.3165
Cure of alopecia areata after eradication of Helicobacter pylori: A new association?
Germán Campuzano-Maya
Germán Campuzano-Maya, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antioquia. Medical Director, Laboratorio Clínico Hematológico, Carrera 43C No. 5-33, Medellín, Colombia
Author contributions: Campuzano-Maya G wrote this paper.
Correspondence to: Dr. Germán Campuzano-Maya, Professor, Ad honorem, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antioquia. Medical Director, Laboratorio Clínico Hematológico, Carrera 43C No. 5-33, Medellín, Colombia. gcm@lch.co
Telephone: +57-4-4444524    Fax: +57-4-3127226
Received: January 18, 2011
Revised: March 5, 2011
Accepted: March 12, 2011
Published online: July 14, 2011
Abstract

Alopecia areata is a disease of the hair follicles, with strong evidence supporting autoimmune etiology. Alopecia areata is frequently associated with immune-mediated diseases with skin manifestations such as psoriasis and lichen planus, or without skin manifestations such as autoimmune thyroiditis and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is present in around 50% of the world’s population and has been associated with a variety of immune-mediated extra-digestive disorders including autoimmune thyroiditis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and psoriasis. A case of a 43-year old man with an 8-mo history of alopecia areata of the scalp and beard is presented. The patient was being treated by a dermatologist and had psychiatric support, without any improvement. He had a history of dyspepsia and the urea breath test confirmed H. pylori infection. The patient went into remission from alopecia areata after H. pylori eradication. If such an association is confirmed by epidemiological studies designed for this purpose, new therapeutic options could be available for these patients, especially in areas where infection with H. pylori is highly prevalent.

Keywords: Alopecia areata; Helicobacter pylori; Molecular mimicry; Eradication treatment