Summary
Background: The pathophysiology of alopecia areata (AA) has not been clearly defi ned; however, it appears as a tissue-restricted autoimmune disease mediated by T lymphocytes. Immunohistochemical studies have shown peri- and infra-follicular infl ammatory infi ltrate which damages hair follicles. We analyzed
the role of lipid peroxidation and oxidant-antioxidant enzymes in the pathogenesis of AA.
Material/Methods: Twenty-four patients with AA and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. We analyzed serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) and the serum activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and xanthine oxidase (XO) in patients with AA and control subjects.
Results: The levels of MDA and NO (nitrite/nitrate) and the activity of XO in serum of patients with AA (0.76±0.34 nmol/ml, 14.88±6.40 nmol/ml, and 0.34±0.10 U/ml, respectively) were signifi cantly
higher than those of controls (0.35±0.09 nmol/ml, 10.71±1.75 nmol/ml, 0.11±0.03 U/ml; p

Keywords: Alopecia Areata - blood, Xanthine Oxidase - blood, Adolescent, Adult, Alopecia Areata - blood, Antioxidants - metabolism, Biological Markers - blood, Female, Humans, Lipid Peroxidation, Male, Malondialdehyde - blood, Middle Aged, Nitric Oxide - blood, Oxidants - metabolism, Reference Values, Superoxide Dismutase - blood, Xanthine Oxidase - blood