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Characterization of the inflammatory features of central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia
Author(s) -
Flamm Alexandra,
Moshiri Ata S.,
Roche Fritzlaine,
Onyekaba Ginikanwa,
Nguyen Jennifer,
James Alaina J.,
Taylor Susan,
Seykora John T.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of cutaneous pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1600-0560
pISSN - 0303-6987
DOI - 10.1111/cup.13666
Subject(s) - pathology , pathophysiology , medicine , hair follicle , scarring alopecia , fibrosis , outer root sheath , dermatology , immunohistochemistry , scalp
Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a scarring alopecia that primarily affects women of African descent. Although histopathological features of CCCA have been described, the pathophysiology of this disease remains unclear. To better understand the components of CCCA pathophysiology, we evaluated the composition of the inflammatory infiltrate, the distribution of Langerhans cells (LCs), and the relationship between fibrosis and perifollicular vessel distribution. Our data indicate that CCCA is associated with a CD4‐predominant T‐cell infiltrate with increased LCs extending into the lower hair follicle. Fibroplasia associated with follicular scarring displaces blood vessels away from the outer root sheath epithelium. These data indicate that CCCA is an inflammatory scarring alopecia with unique pathophysiologic features that differentiate it from other lymphocytic scarring processes.