Trace element levels in alopecia areata.

BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is a recurrent, nonscarring type of hair loss considered to be an autoimmune process. Though its etiopathology is not fully understood, there are claims that imbalance of trace elements may trigger the onset of AA. AIM: The aim of the present study was to assess the levels of zinc, copper, and magnesium in the serum of AA patients. METHODS: Fifty AA patients (34 men and 16 women), and fifty age and sex matched healthy control subjects were studied. Samples were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometric methods. RESULTS: Serum zinc levels were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in AA patients whose disease was extensive, prolonged, and resistant to treatment, whereas serum copper and magnesium levels showed insignificant rise compared to controls. CONCLUSION: We conclude that copper and magnesium levels are not altered in AA, but the decreased zinc levels found in our study may merit further investigation of the relationship.

S-100 protein in the diagnosis of tuberculoid/borderline tuberculoid leprosy.

BACKGROUND: A definitive diagnosis of tuberculoid and borderline tuberculoid leprosy is based on a demonstration of either acid-fast bacilli or nerve elements within the granulomas. On routine hematoxylin and eosin stains, the nerve fibers are not easily identifiable. In this study, we used S-100 protein to highlight the nerve elements and to count their numbers in leprosy and non-leprosy granulomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Skin biopsy specimens from 15 cases of tuberculoid/borderline tuberculoid leprosy and 14 cases belonging to other granulomatous diseases of the skin were stained with S-100 protein. The surface area of all the biopsies was calculated and the number of nerve bundles stained with S-100 protein were counted in each specimen. RESULTS: The nerve bundles were 15 per cm 2 in leprosy cases, and 9.2 per cm2 in non-leprosy cases. In addition, the leprosy cases showed longer nerve twigs that were perpendicularly oriented to the skin surface. CONCLUSION: Immunostaining with S-100 facilitated detection of nerve elements in tuberculoid/borderline tuberculoid leprosy. Also, an increased number of nerve elements were found in leprosy granulomas when compared with non-leprosy granulomas (P=<0.05).