Concentration of some trace element in the serum, hair and nail of alopecia areata patients

ABSTRACT

Fifty three subjects [41 patients with alopecia areata and 12 matched controls] were selected for this study. The alopecia group comprised 25 males and 16 females with age varying from 10 to 40 years. Thirty one patients had alopecia areata and 10 patients had alopecia totalis. Fifteen patients had nail changes. Zinc, iron, copper and magnesium were estimated in the serum samples of all individuals of the study [41 patients and 12 controls] and the hair and nail samples of 42 subjects [30 patients and 12 controls] by the use of atomic absorption spectrophotometry. No statistically significant differences were found between trace elements concentrations in patients compared to controls except for low hair and nail zinc. Also patient with nail changes have a significant nail zinc as compared to those nail changes. According to these results we can speculate that trace elements have no proven role in the pathogenesis alopecia areata except for zinc which may be involved in the pathogenesis of this disease