Simultaneous onset of alopecia areata and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: A potential association?

Immune thrombocytopenia and alopecia areata: spontaneous occurrence and resolution in the same patient

Alopecia areata (AA) and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) are autoimmune conditions occasionally encountered by pediatricians, but their simultaneous occurrence is rare. We describe here a 7-year-old female who acutely developed both AA and ITP. Within 3 months both conditions resolved spontaneously, suggesting a pathophysiologic relationship.

Cure of alopecia areata after eradication of Helicobacter pylori: a new association?

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.