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Encyclopedia of Medical Immunology pp 26–36Cite as

Alopecia in Systemic Autoimmune Disease

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Synonyms

Autoimmune disease and hair loss

Definition

Hair loss that is directly associated with autoimmune disease involves immune mechanisms in its pathogenesis targeting the hair follicles. They may be localized or generalized, as well as scarring and non-scarring in type. Secondary factors may also play a role in hair growth, including the medications used to treat the primary disease.

Lupus

Hair loss is one of the most common cutaneous signs of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and is present in more than half the patients at some time during the course of their illness (Moghadam-Kia and Franks 2013). Alopecia can be the presenting manifestation of SLE and may affect the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, beard hair, or body hair (McCauliffe and Sontheimer 1996). Alopecia may be associated with active disease and can also occur due to immunosuppressive medications used to treat lupus. Lupus alopecia can be scarring associated with discoid lupus or non-scarring. The Systemic Lupus...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Georgetown University/Washington Hospital Center, Washington, PA, USA

    Siamak Moghadam-Kia

  2. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburg, PA, USA

    Siamak Moghadam-Kia

  3. Dermatology and Medicine (Rheumatology), Skin Lupus and Autoimmune Connective Tissue Disease Section, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    Andrew G. Franks Jr.

Authors
  1. Siamak Moghadam-Kia
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  2. Andrew G. Franks Jr.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Siamak Moghadam-Kia .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

    Ian R. Mackay

  2. Center for Autoimmune Disease Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Noel R. Rose

  3. The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA

    Betty Diamond

  4. The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA

    Anne Davidson

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Moghadam-Kia, S., Franks, A.G. (2014). Alopecia in Systemic Autoimmune Disease. In: Mackay, I.R., Rose, N.R., Diamond, B., Davidson, A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Medical Immunology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-84828-0_232

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-84828-0_232

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-84827-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-84828-0

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