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The frequent coexistence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in patients with alopecia areata may indicate the common pathogenetic pathway in these conditions with an important role of adipokines. The aim of the study was to evaluate the serum level of adiponectin, resistin and leptin in patients with alopecia areata in comparison to healthy controls. The study included 65 patients with alopecia areata and 71 healthy controls. The concentration of adipokines was determined with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mean concentrations of adiponectin and resistin were significantly lower in the sera of patients with alopecia areata when compared to healthy controls (7966 [Formula: see text] 4087 vs 9947 [Formula: see text] 5692 ng/ml; p = 0.0312 and 11.04 [Formula: see text] 3.88 vs 14.11 [Formula: see text] 8.69 ng/ml; p = 0.0176, respectively). A negative correlation between the serum level of adiponectin and severity of alopecia tool (SALT) score was observed (r = - 0.26; p < 0.05). The concentration of adiponectin was significantly lower in patients with alopecia universalis than in patients with patchy alopecia areata (4951 [Formula: see text] 2499 vs 8525 [Formula: see text] 4085 ng/ml; p = 0.0135). No significant difference in the serum concentration of leptin was observed between patients with alopecia areata and healthy controls. The negative correlation between the serum level of adiponectin and hair loss severity indicates that adiponectin may be considered a marker of hair loss severity in alopecia areata. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of resistin in patients with alopecia areata and its decreased level irregardless of severity or activity of the disease.

Introduction: Alopecia areata and frontal fibrosing alopecia are common causes of eyebrow loss (madarosis)., Objective: Assessment of trichoscopic markers of eyebrow loss in alopecia areata and frontal fibrosing alopecia., Materials and Methods: The analysis included 50 patients with scalp alopecia areata with madarosis, 50 patients with scalp frontal fibrosing alopecia with madarosis and 50 healthy controls. In every case, trichoscopy of the eyebrow area was performed., Results: Empty follicular and eccrine duct openings were observed in all patients and presented predominantly as yellow dots. Exclamation mark hairs were only detected in patients with alopecia areata (30%). Tapered hairs, broken hair, black dots and Pohl-Pinkus constrictions were observed in 14%, 36%, 26% and 4% of patients with alopecia areata, respectively, 4%, 16%, 2% and 0% of patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia, respectively, and they were not present in healthy controls. Dystrophic hairs and whitish areas were observed only in patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia (28% and 32%, respectively). Eyebrow regrowth in distinct directions was present in 32% of patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia, 8% of patients with alopecia areata and 4% of healthy controls. Diffuse erythema was detected in 60% of patients with alopecia areata and frontal fibrosing alopecia and 56% of healthy controls. Vellus hairs and upright regrowing hairs were observed in patients with alopecia areata (62% and 58%, respectively), frontal fibrosing alopecia (60% and 84%, respectively) and healthy controls (100% and 100%, respectively)., Conclusion: Trichoscopy of the eyebrow area is useful in diagnosing patients with isolated eyebrow loss. The most characteristic trichoscopic features of eyebrow loss in alopecia areata include exclamation mark hairs, tapered hairs, broken hairs and black dots. Frontal fibrosing alopecia of the eyebrows is characterized by the presence of dystrophic hairs, white areas and eyebrow regrowth in distinct directions., (© 2018 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Satoyoshi syndrome is a multisystem disorder of suspected autoimmune etiology, characterized predominantly by alopecia, muscle spasms and diarrhea. Antinuclear antibodies are present in 60% of patients. The syndrome primarily affects girls and young women. Trichoscopy shows regularly distributed yellow dots, indistinguishable from typical alopecia areata. The condition may be easily misdiagnosed and treated as alopecia areata. On the basis of an in-depth analysis of all published cases we developed diagnostic criteria for Satoyoshi syndrome. We also suggest that two subtypes of the disorder should be distinguished, the ANA-positive Satoyoshi syndrome with generally good response to systemic glucocorticosteroid therapy and the ANA-negative Satoyoshi with less favorable prognosis. In our opinion all patients will alopecia areata (in particular alopecia totalis) should be inquired about muscle spasms and diarrhea and tested for antinuclear antibodies to decrease the risk of missing Satoyoshi syndrome., (© 2014 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Background. 'Black dots' are macrocomedo-like round structures localized to the follicular ostium, and are considered a specific trichoscopic feature of alopecia areata (AA). Aim. To characterize specific features of 'black dots', and assess their possible presence in common hair and scalp disorders. Methods. In total, 107 patients with hair loss [30 with alopecia areata (AA), 37 with androgenetic alopecia (AGA), 17 with chronic telogen effluvium (TE), 23 with other hair and scalp diseases] and 93 healthy controls were examined, using a videodermoscope with 20-70 times magnification. Results. There was a correlation between the black dots and the early acute phase of the various alopecia types with the presence of the black dots. Black dots were found in 11% (22/107) of patients with hair loss, including 53.3% (16/30) with AA; in 40% (2/5) of patients with severe chemotherapy-induced alopecia, and in 100% of patients with dissecting cellulitis of the scalp ( n = 2), hypotrichosis simplex ( n = 1), and congenital aplasia cutis ( n = 1). No black dots were seen in patients with AGA or TE. Conclusions. Black dots are not specific for AA, and may be present in other hair and scalp diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]