RESUMO
INTRODUCTION@#Alopecia areata incognita is a rare form of alopecia areata which was first reported in 1987. The prevalence of this disease is unknown but it is more common in women. The usual presentation of alopecia areata incognita is acute, diffuse hair thinning. In most cases, it lacks the typical alopetic patches seen in alopecia areata. It may resemble telogen effluvium and androgenetic alopecia. The prognosis of this disease is favorable and recovery is rapid and spontaneous. Case: A 19- year-old Filipino female presents with a two-month history of alopecia areata incognita. She initially had a solitary round patch of hair loss on the scalp with proximally tapered hair, rapidly evolving into diffuse hair thinning. CBC, TFTS, FBS, HBA 1 c, ANA and VDRL were unremarkable. Histopathology demonstrated dense peribulbar lymphocytic infiltrate, miniaturized hair and increased catagen hair consistent with alopecia areata. There was gradual hair growth after treatment with minoxidil 5% lotion and topical betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% lotion.
RESUMO
La alopecia areata incógnita es un tipo de alopecia no cicatricial, que ha sido considerada por algunos autores como parte del espectro de alopecia areata. Se presenta como caída difusa de cabello, con visualización variable de vellos cortos, puntos amarillos, puntos negros y pelos en signos de exclamación a la dermatoscopía, y hallazgos histológicos que, si bien varían de acuerdo al tiempo de evolución, son similares a lo encontrado en biopsias de pacientes con patrones clásicos de alopecia areata. Desde que Rebora et al. describe por primera vez su hipótesis de alopecia areata incógnita, se han publicado diversos estudios dirigidos a establecer criterios que permitan definir esta entidad. Sin embargo, aún no se ha llegado a consenso. A continuación, se describen los hallazgos clínicos, dermatoscópicos e histopatológicos de pacientes con alopecia difusa de difícil manejo vistos en el Departamento de Dermatología de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Alopecia areata incognita, a type of non-scarring alopecia, has been considered by some authors as a subtype of alopecia areata. Clinically it is characterized by diffuse hair fall, with variable display of short hairs, yellow dots, black dots and exclamation mark hairs on dermoscopy. Its histological findings are similar to those found in biopsies of patients with classical pattern of alopecia areata, although substancial changes may be seen according to the evolution of the disease. Since Rebora et al. described his hypothesis of alopecia areata incognita, several studies have been published to establish a criteria in order to define this entity. However, still no consensus has been reached. In this review, we describe the clinical, dermoscopic and histopathologic features of patients seen at the Dermatology Department of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile with the diagnosis of diffuse alopecia with difficult management.