Bidirectional Relationship Between AA and Psoriasis

There is something very unique about the relationship between alopecia areata and psoriasis. We know that many patients we see with alopecia areata have psoriasis and many patients with psoriasis have alopecia areata.

Jung  JM et al. 2022

In 2022, authors from South Korea set out to examine the relationship between psoriasis and alopecia areata. The reviewed published studies in the medical literature in order to answer the questions:

Are patients with alopecia areata more likely to develop psoriasis?

Are patients with psoriasis more likely to develop alopecia areata?

The authors included 27 studies in their meta-analysis. The authors calculated that the pooled odds ratio of alopecia areata among patients with psoriasis was 2.71 (95% CI, 2.29-3.21), and the pooled odds ratio of psoriasis among patients with alopecia areata was 3.52 (95% CI, 1.27-9.74).

Comments

Alopecia areata psoriasis have a unique bidirectional relationship. Patients with psoriasis are at increased risk for AA and patients with AA are at increased risk for psoriasis.

REFERENCE

Jung  JM et al. Association between psoriasis and alopecia areata: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Dermatol. 2022 Sep;49(9):912-915. doi: 10.1111/1346-8138.16420. Epub 2022 May 5.