International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-7802112016092617341734ENDepartment of Dermatology, Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, IsfahanStudent of Medicine, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, IsfahanDepartment of Dermatology, Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, IsfahanDepartment of Biostatics and Epidemiology, Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, IsfahanSkin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, TehranDepartment of Dermatology, Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan20160926<p><strong>Background:</strong> Alopecia areata (AA) is a noncicatricial (nonscarring) alopecia. The association<br />between AA and celiac disease (CD) is debatable. Several studies declare the relationship<br />between AA and CD as measurement of celiac autoantibodies (anti‑gliadin IgA and anti‑gliadin<br />IgG), but a few studies consider anti‑tissue transglutaminase IgA. The aim of this study was<br />to evaluate the frequency distribution of celiac autoantibodies (all of them) in patients with AA<br />compared with controls.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> This study is a case&ndash;control study. Thirty‑five patients entered in each group. Anti‑gliadin<br />IgA, anti‑gliadin IgG, and anti‑tissue transglutaminase IgA were tested in all patients. Samples<br />were examined in ELISA method with binding site&rsquo;s kits, and the result was reported as positive/<br />negative. Finally, the frequency distribution of autoantibodies was examined.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> The age average did not show a significant difference between two groups (P = 0.62). In<br />addition, there was no significant difference between the two groups based on gender (P = 0.15).<br />The prevalence of antibody in case and control groups was 2.85% and 0%, respectively. There<br />was no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.31).</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> There may be a relationship between CD and AA, but the absence of statistical<br />association between AA and CD does not mean that there is no relationship between gluten and<br />AA in certain patients. Thus, we have shown here that the biological tests to search for CD do not<br />bring information and proof enough, and it is why we recommend another approach to disclose<br />gluten intolerance in AA patients.</p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> Alopecia areata, autoantibodies, celiac, frequency distribution</p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/1734http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/1734/2023