Am J Dermatopathol. 1991 Jun;13(3):248-56.
Cell degeneration in alopecia areata. An ultrastructural study.
Tobin DJ, et al.
The morphology and prevalence of different forms of cell degeneration in hair follicles in acute alopecia areata were investigated. In addition to apoptosis and necrosis, a third morphological pattern of cell degeneration, dark-cell transformation, was evident. Patients with untreatedalopecia areata and three normal adults without hair loss were studied. Although apoptosis of outer root sheath keratinocytes produces normal hair follicle involution (catagen), increased levels of apoptosis, necrosis, and dark-cell formation appear to be related to the pathology of alopecia areata.