Development of the diagnostic system for the prognosis of severe alopecia areata integrating imaging and immunological analysis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K17328
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53050:Dermatology-related
• Research Institution: Kyorin University
• Principal Investigator: Kinoshita-Ise Misaki 杏林大学, 医学部, 学内講師 (40594594)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 円形脱毛症 / 超音波 / 超高周波 / 三次元 / トリコスコピー / 予後

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Using novel diagnostic modality: three dimentional ultra－high　frequency　ultrasound for the assessment of alopecia areata, we succeeded in detecting ultrasonographic findings associated with hair cycle abnormality and inflammation. Additionally, presence of these findings were associated with disease phase and treatment response after the examination. As they are not observable by conventional diagnostic techniques, ultrasonographic findings newly detected in this study would help evaluate disease activity and predict treatment response of individual patients.

Free Research Field

皮膚科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

個々の脱毛症患者の病態や重症度、疾患の活動性を正確に評価するためには頭皮生検（頭皮から組織を採取し病理学的に評価する検査）が有用だが、痛みや傷跡という点で患者に負担を与える検査であり、限られた状況でのみ行われてきた。本研究では3D機能を備えた高性能の超音波技術を用いて円形脱毛症患者の頭皮を観察し、病態や治療反応性と関連した異常所見を同定することに成功した。同技術を円形脱毛症患者に用いることで、患者への負担は最小限に抑えつつ、病態に即した有効な治療法の提案・計画がしやすくなるものと考えられる。