Diagnostic performance of ultrasonography for evaluating subclinical atherosclerosis in alopecia areata patients without risk factors for cardiovascular diseases

The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with alopecia areata (AA) by the measurement of carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) with Doppler ultrasonography. Seventy six subjects with AA were compared prospectively with age and sex-matched healthy 76 subjects. Individuals in both groups were aged between 18 and 42, had a body mass index <30 kg/m2, and had no risk factors for CVDs. CIMT in both sides was assessed by Doppler ultrasonography, and mean values were noted. CIMT in both sides was significantly higher in patients with AA than healthy control group (P < .05). AA patients were divided into subgroups according to AA type, disease duration, disease severity, and existence of poor prognostic factors. CIMT did not show statistically significant difference between AA subgroups (P > .05), but it was higher in AA patients with poor prognostic factors. High CIMT values as an indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis may show the risk of CVDs in patients with AA. CIMT can be easily measured by ultrasonography which is an accessible, fast, and radiation-free radiological method.