الفهرس 
Alopecia AreataOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
A
lopecia areata (AA) is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by hair loss, most frequently from the scalp. Its etiopathogenesis is currently unknown, but inflammatory traits and associations with autoimmune diseases suggest that AA shares a similar origin. The tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) gene, located on chromosome 6 within the major histocompatibility complex class III gene, may carry many polymorphisms – particularly in the promoter region, such as TNFα-308G/A – known to be risk factors in a wide variety of inflammatory diseases.
This polymorphism has been associated with augmented TNFα production and, thus, renders carriers more susceptible for developing autoimmune diseases.
This study included 21 patients with patchy alopecia areata and 21 age and sex matched normal control. All patients were subjects to detailed history taking and examination. A 3ml blood sample was taken for detection of TNF-α -308 gene polymorphism by Restricted Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) PCR.
The results showed that the frequency of TNF-α-308 gene mutation was insignificantly associated in patients with patchy alopecia areata when compared with control group, 4.8% of controls had mutant gene, while 28.6% of patients had the mutant gene (P=.093).
Also we compared the clinical data of patients with patchy alopecia areata with normal genotype and those with the mutant genotype, no statistically significant difference was found as regard the age, sex duration of illness, medical associations, family history of autoimmune diseases. However, statistically significant difference was found as regard family history of AA and the number of lesions.
Our data suggest that there is association between the presence of the TNFα-308G/A polymorphism (homozygous or heterozygous) and susceptibility for developing patchy AA but it was insignificant. This risk might be due to overproduction of TNFα, which would facilitate an autoimmune response against the hair follicle.
We concluded that the frequency of the TNF-α 308 gene polymorphism (homozygous or heterozygous) is observed in the patients with patchy alopecia areata than normal control. An individual with TNF-α 308 gene polymorphism is more susceptible to patchy alopecia areata than normal individual.