Objective
The aim of this study was to detect the role of vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1)
in patients with alopecia areata (AA).
Background
AA affects about 2–3% of new patients attending dermatology clinics. The etiology of
AA is still largely unknown. Clinically, AA presents as an area of well-circumscribed
patch of sudden hair loss. Theseverity of disease is graded using Severity of Alopecia
Tool score. Treatment depends on disease involvement. In 1996, Arvilommi
and colleagues reported that about 75–100% of dermal vessels in skin lesions
demonstrated positive VAP-1 expression.
Patients and methods
This study included 50 patients with AA (group A), and 30 apparently healthy
individuals of matched age and sex were chosen as a control group (group B). All
patients were selected from the Outpatient Clinic of Dermatology and Andrology
Department of Benha University Hospitals.
Results
The mean±SD age of the patients was 27.3±14.05, whereas the mean±SD age of
the control group was 32.8±11.27 years. Serum level of VAP-1 was higher in AA
patients with progressive course compared with patients with constant course.
Serum VAP-1 level was variable according to the pattern of hair loss in the patient
group. The VAP-1 level according to the presence or absence of exclamation mark
was not statistically significant. There was a highly significant variation in serum
VAP-1 level according to psychological stress. VAP-1 level was not statistically
significant according to the presence or absence of nail pitting. There was a highly
statistically significant correlation between VAP-1 level and the Severity of Alopecia
Tool score. There was a statistically significant correlation between VAP-1 level and
the number of lesions. There was no statistically significant correlation between
VAP-1 level and the size of the lesion. There was no statistically significant
correlation between VAP-1 level and the age of the patients and the duration of
the disease.
Conclusion
Serum VAP-1 level is an important marker for the early diagnosis (prediction) of
suspicious cases of AA, prognosis of the disease, the course of the disease, and
whether the case will progress to alopecia totalis or universalis or it will remain
stationary. It can be a target for new therapeutic lines for the disease. |
