The Changing Landscape of Alopecia Areata: An Introduction

Although alopecia areata in its common presentation as patches of hair loss on the scalp is fairly innocuous and facile to treat, more severe forms of alopecia areata (AA) including totalis and universalis have long been very challenging conditions, with no standard of care for treatment. Treatment options for these severe forms of alopecia areata include immunosuppressants with numerous side effects and even when they are effective, a durable response is not common. Much of the difficulty underlying this lack of an effective treatment has been an incomplete understanding of the pathogenesis of AA. While the histologic characteristics of alopecia areata are well described, the causes of this pattern of inflammation have been elusive until recently.

In this issue, two of the pioneers of alopecia areata research, Dr. Angela Christiano and Dr. Emma Guttman-Yassky, have provided a comprehensive review of the current landscape of alopecia areata. In the first paper from Dr. Christiano’s group [1], the immunopathogenesis of alopecia areata is explored, including the connections between in vivo, preclinical, and translational research studies. Genetic studies have provided a wealth of information about what inflammatory pathways underlie AA and when combined with a more refined understanding of the immune profile and cytokine activation in AA, our understanding of the disease process has improved greatly over recent years. Novel animal models, imaging modalities, and disease classification metrics are also presented. Finally, the rationale behind using various treatment modalities is discussed, providing an approach to understanding where they fit in to a treatment regimen. Accordingly, Dr. Guttman-Yassky’s paper [2] takes a deeper dive into several newer treatment options for AA, emphasizing the current evidence and data available for each medication and how they might fit into the clinical approach to AA. Using the treatment of psoriasis as a parallel paradigm in the treatment of a systemic inflammatory disease, the various cytokine pathways activated in AA in the context of drugs targeting them are summarized. Furthermore, specific differences between medications within the same class are presented, allowing for a more nuanced view of AA treatment options.

Together, these papers provide a timely review during a period where our understanding and treatment approach to AA is truly undergoing a revolution. Whereas we previously had only a very basic understanding of the pathogenesis of AA, we now have a wealth of information about mechanisms underlying AA which may lead to further discoveries and treatment approaches in coming years. Concordantly, novel treatments for AA are emerging that have the potential to transform patients’ lives who have had to deal with the severe consequences of widespread AA. At this confluence of research and therapeutics, there is new hope in our approach to and treatment of alopecia areata.