Open AccessTumor necrosis factor-alpha in patients with alopecia areata
Author(s) -
Emina Kasumagić-Halilović,
Asja Prohić,
Semra Čavaljuga
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
indian journal of dermatology/indian journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.395
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1998-3611
pISSN - 0019-5154
DOI - 10.4103/0019-5154.87124
Subject(s) - alopecia areata , hair loss , medicine , alopecia universalis , scalp , tumor necrosis factor alpha , hair follicle , male pattern baldness , endocrinology , gastroenterology , immunology , dermatology
Alopecia areata (AA) is a common form of localized, nonscarring hair loss. It is characterized by the loss of hair in patches, total loss of scalp hair (alopecia totalis, AT), or total loss of body hair (alopecia universalis, AU). The cause of AA is unknown, although most evidence supports the hypothesis that AA is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease of the hair follicle and that cytokines play an important role.