Chronic Mucocutaneous Cand1diasis, Endocrine Deficiency and Alopecia Areata

Summary.— A family with the endocrine candidiasis syntdrome is described, in which 3 members with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism also suffered from oral and cutaneous candidiasis. Alopecia areata developcd in l of the affected members, A review of 42 cases described in the literature revealed 13 patients with alopecia areata. The eyelashes or eyebrows were iiivolved in 12 patients. Addison's disease appears to be commoner in those patients with the syndrome who also have alopecia areata. The evidence from this retrospective analysis is not conclusive and merits further observation, but these findings are in keeping with a possible autoimmune aetiology for alopecia areata.