The correlation between red cell distribution width, autoimmunity and nail involvement in alopecia areata

Year 2019, Volume: 5 Issue: 4, 623 - 628, 04.07.2019

Gülhan Gürel

https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.408089

Abstract

Objectives:
Alopecia areata is a widespread autoimmune
disease that targets hair follicles, and is characterized by nonscarring
patches of hair loss. Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a routinely analyzed
parameter during complete blood count, and indicates variations in diameters of
red blood cells. Elevated RDW levels are associated with high level of
inflammation and oxidative stress. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the
correlation between RDW levels, autoimmunity, and nail involvement in alopecia
areata.

Methods: Medical records of 170 patients who were admitted to
our dermatology clinic between May 2016 and May 2017 were retrospectively
evaluated. A total of 170 patients with alopecia areata diagnosis were
evaluated.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 24.61 ± 12.62 years
(3-59 years). Sixty patients (35.3%) were female, and 110 patients (64.7%) were
male. Twenty-seven patients (15.9%) had nail involvement, and 24 patients
(14.1%) had a history of an autoimmune disease. RDW levels were significantly
higher in patients with nail involvement and history of an autoimmune disease.

Conclusion: RDW can be used as a simple, cheap, and readily available
marker of inflammation in patients with alopecia areata.

Keywords

Alopecia areata, red cell distribution width, autoimmunity

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