J Cosmet Dermatol. 2009 Mar; 8(1): 52-5Abdel-Hafez HZ, Mahran AM, Hofny ER, Attallah DA, Sayed DS, Rashed HABACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is an immune-mediated form of hair loss that occurs in all ethnic groups, ages, and both sexes. Helicobacter pylori has been associated with certain extra-digestive dermatological conditions, including chronic urticaria, rosacea, Schönlein-Henoch purpura, Sweet syndrome, systemic sclerosis, and atopic dermatitis. OBJECTIVE: The causal relation between alopecia areata and H. pylori is discussed. We have screened for the presence of H. pylori in patients with AA in order to determine any potential role in its pathophysiology. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have prospectively studied 31 patients with AA and 24 healthy volunteers of similar gender for the presence of H. pylori surface antigen (HpSag) in stool. RESULTS: Optical density values for H. pylori infection were positive in 18 of all 31 patients evaluated (58.1%), while in 13 patients, values did ...