Non-scarring Alopecias in Iranian Patients: A Histopathological Study With Hair Counts

• Published in: Iranian journal of pathology Vol. 13; no. 3; pp. 317 - 324
• Main Authors: Sari Aslani, Fatemeh, Heidari Esfahani, Mina, Sepaskhah, Mozhdeh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Iran Iranian Society of Pathology 01.01.2018
• Subjects: alopecia areata; androgenetic alopecia; non-scarring alopecia; Original; scalp biopsy; telogen effluvium; Pathology; Alopecia; Iran; Biopsy; Scalp; Androgenetic alopecia; Alopecia areata
• ISSN: 1735-5303; 2345-3656

Non-scarring alopecia is a challenge in the diagnosis and treatment, rarely studied in Asian countries.The current study aimed at evaluating histopathological features including hair count of different subtypes of non-scarring alopecia in Iranian patients. The current study was conducted on 114 cases diagnosed with non-scarring alopecia in Molecular Dermatology Research Center and Pathology Department of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Cases with two 4-mm scalp punch biopsies were selected. Patients' clinical data were compared with histological findings. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) was the most common subtype followed by alopecia areata (AA) and combined AGA/telogen effluvium (TE). Perifollicular inflammation was observed in 21% of AGA with a significant difference in males and females (66.7% vs. 33.3%; <0.05). Clinical and histopathologic diagnoses were correlated in 55% of cases. Maximum correlation was observed in combined AGA and chronic TE (88%). For vertical sections, the diagnostic rate was 33.6%, while 88% for transverse sections. Transverse together with vertical sectioning provides most of the information in non-scarring alopecias, while transverse sectioning is enough to diagnose the majority of non-scarring alopecias. Perifollicular inflammation was observed in a significant number of cases with AGA, more common in males. It is suggested to report such cases as possibly curable.