Risk Factors for the Development of and Outcomes after Diagnosis of Autoimmune Alopecia Areata in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

The development of certain immune-mediated diseases (IMD) in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD; Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC)] has been linked to treatment of IBD. Hair loss in some patients may be due to immune-mediated alopecia areata (AA). Risk factors and outcomes of AA in patients with IBD have not been previously explored. This was a retrospective, multi-center case–control study. Cases were identified as individuals who developed IBD before AA diagnosis. Controls comprised of those who were never diagnosed with AA and treated contemporaneously, selected using random number generator. We extracted demographic and IBD treatment history. Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) was used to stratify AA severity. AA outcomes and interventions were compared within controls. We identified 58 cases and 90 controls. Cases had significantly higher rate of tumor necrosis factor α antagonist (anti-TNF) use compared to controls (40.7