Assessment of Vascular Circulation in Alopecia Areata Using the FMSF Technique

Abstract

Background: Alopecia areata is regarded as a T cell-mediated autoimmune disorder, but the exact etiopathogenesis of the disease has not been completely elucidated. The aim of the study was to assess vascular circulation using Flow-Mediated Skin Fluorescence (FMSF) in alopecia patients compared to healthy volunteers, which could explain disease pathogenesis. Methods: FMSF is a new non-invasive method for assessing vascular circulation. The study recruited thirty women and four men. In our group, the most common clinical pattern of hair loss was alopecia with circular patches (AA), recognizable in 26 patients: twenty-two women and four men. Alopecia universalis (AU) was diagnosed in eight patients: all women. Results: The most pronounced differences between experimental group participants and controls are seen in the flowmotion (FM), neurogenic oscillation (NEURO), and normoxia oscillatory index (NOI) parameters characterizing microcirculation oscillations. In alopecia, microcirculation oscillations characterized by the FM and NEURO parameters are significantly decreased. Conclusions: This observation may suggest that neuroinflammation is an important factor responsible for alopecia pathogenesis. The women with alopecia areata have dysfunctional microcirculatory function. FMSF could serve as a useful tool for monitoring patients with alopecia.