Evaluation of Blood Biomarkers GPX4 and MDA to Understand Severity and Stage in Adults with Alopecia Areata

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating the role of the ferroptosis pathway in Alopecia Areata AA, a condition characterized by hair loss. This observational study focuses on measuring serum levels of two key biomarkers, Glutathione Peroxidase 4 GPX4, an antioxidant enzyme, and Malondialdehyde MDA, a marker of lipid membrane damage. The goal is to understand how these biomarkers relate to disease severity, stage, and activity in adults with AA. The study will enroll 156 participants, including 104 patients with Alopecia Areata divided into acute and chronic groups and 52 healthy volunteers matched by age and sex. Blood samples will be collected to measure serum GPX4 and MDA concentrations using ELISA kits. These levels will then be compared across groups and correlated with clinical measures such as the Severity of Alopecia Tool SALT score and trichoscopic signs like black dots, yellow dots, and exclamation mark hairs. Participants will be assessed at baseline for serum biomarker levels and clinical severity. The study will involve clinical and trichoscopic examinations to evaluate disease extension and activity. Researchers will analyze the relationship between biomarker levels and disease characteristics. The study aims to establish whether serum GPX4 and MDA can serve as objective indicators to monitor Alopecia Areata severity and progression. Total participation time is not specified, as this is a cross-sectional observational study.

Serum Ferroptosis Biomarkers (GPX4, MDA) in Alopecia Areata