Rates of Infections, Malignancies, Cardiovascular Outcomes, and Death in Individuals with Hospital-Treated Alopecia Areata: A Registry-Based Cohort Study in Denmark

May 2025 in “ Acta Dermato Venereologica ”

Sissel Brandt Toft Sørensen, Prethibha George, Oladayo Jagun, Robert Wołk, Lynne Napatalung, Samuel H. Zwillich, Lars Iversen, Véra Ehrenstein

alopecia areata herpes zoster lymphoma cardiovascular outcomes systemic treatments

TLDR Alopecia areata patients have higher risks of infections, lymphoma, heart issues, and death.

This registry-based cohort study in Denmark investigated the rates of safety events in 2,778 individuals with hospital-treated alopecia areata, diagnosed between 1995 and 2016. The study found that alopecia areata was linked to increased risks of serious infections (SIR 1.89), herpes zoster infections (SIR 1.83), lymphoma (SIR 3.44), cardiovascular outcomes (SIR 1.41), and death (SIR 1.16) compared to the general population. These findings underscore the need for careful monitoring of these risks in alopecia areata patients, particularly with the advent of new systemic treatments.

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Research cited in this study

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People with Alopecia Areata have more herpes simplex infections but similar rates of cancer, blood clots, and heart disease compared to those without it.

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High levels of IL6 and CRP, and low levels of vitamin D, might be indicators of alopecia areata.

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10 citations , January 2023 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

Alopecia areata greatly affects people's life quality, mental health, and work life.

research Integrated Safety Analysis of Baricitinib in Adults With Severe Alopecia Areata From Two Randomized Clinical Trials

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Patients with alopecia areata might have a lower risk of stroke and possibly heart attack.

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People with alopecia areata have a higher risk of stroke.

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