Alopecia areata and thyroid diseases

In the last three years 637 cases ofa alopecia areata have been examined to detect possible association with thyroid autoimmune diseases. Sixty-one patients had an abnormality, as determined by elevation of microsomal and thyroglobulin antibodies and by one or more tests of thyroid function. The incidence of thyroid autoimmunity disorders (9.57%) in our series of patients with alopecia areata appears to be significantly high; it mainly occurs in female patients, in an age range between 28 and 39 years and in alopecia universalis.