Type : Phenotype or locus, molecular basis unknown;
Included titles and symbols : Alopecia universalis; AU;
Description : Alopecia areata is a genetically determined, immune-mediated disorder of the hair
follicle with an estimated lifetime risk of approximately 2%, making it one of the
most common human autoimmune diseases (Gilhar and Kalish, 2006). It shows a spectrum
of severity that ranges from patchy localized hair loss on the scalp to the complete
absence of hair everywhere on the body.;