Alopecia areata multiplex following autologous dermal micro-graft injection for treatment of androgenetic alopecia.

Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease of the hair follicle (HF). Human anagen HFs are protected by immune privilege, defined in part as the absence of MHC class I antigen expression. AA is postulated to occur when the immune-privileged state of the HF is compromised ; however, the immunopathogenesis, including autoantigens, of AA remain incompletely defined. Recently, through genome-wide association studies, gene expression analysis, and a C3H/HeJ mouse model of AA, the cytotoxic subset of CD8+NKG2D+ T cells was revealed to play a major role in AA development . In contrast to AA, androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is believed to be caused by androgens on the hair cycles. Among other autologous transplantation procedures, autologous dermal micro-grafts have recently been used to treat AGA . Herein, we report a case of AA that developed following an autologous dermal micro-graft for AGA. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.