Key result
C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher in patients with alopecia areata compared to healthy controls, whereas other complete blood count parameters showed no significant differences.
Why the study?
Parameters such as RDW, MPV, PCT, NLR, and PLR have been reported as inflammatory markers, but had not been investigated in patients with alopecia areata.
Are complete blood cell and inflammatory parameters elevated in patients with alopecia areata compared to healthy controls?
Case-Control (n=213)
Are complete blood cell and inflammatory parameters elevated in patients with alopecia areata compared to healthy controls?
CRP is significantly elevated in patients with alopecia areata and may serve as a marker of inflammation in this condition.
Elevated CRP in alopecia areata is hypothesis-generating; leaves open whether inflammation-targeted approaches alter disease course.
BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by non-cicatricial hair loss. The cause of the disease is still unknown. It can appear at any age and occurs in 0.2% of the general population. Red cell distribution width (RDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), plateletcrit (PCT), the ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes (NLR), and the ratio of platelets to lymphocytes (PLR) have all been reported as inflammatory markers in recent studies. However, these parameters have not been investigated in AA patients. AIM: We investigated the haematological and inflammatory parameters of AA and considered their association with disease severity. PATIENTS/METHODS: One hundred and five patients with AA and 108 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. RDW, MPV, PCT, NLR, PLR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were studied retrospectively. Disease severity was evaluated by using the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between RDW, MPV, PCT, NLR, and PLR levels in AA patients and in healthy controls. Only the CRP values were significantly higher in the AA group. CONCLUSION: Complete blood count (CBC) parameters are low-cost tests that can be used to define inflammation levels in inflammatory diseases. Our study shows that CRP can be used as a marker in diagnosing AA.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
İslamoğlu et al. (2019) conducted a case-control in Alopecia areata (n=213). Alopecia areata vs. Healthy controls was evaluated on Haematological and inflammatory parameters (RDW, MPV, PCT, NLR, PLR, ESR, and CRP). C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher in patients with alopecia areata compared to healthy controls, whereas other complete blood count parameters showed no significant differences.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: