Alopecia Areata

To the Editor.—  Alopecia areata (AA) is a common dermatologic disease, the origin of which is still unknown.¹ A number of studies support the hypothesis that at least a subset of alopecia areata may be immunologically mediated. It has, in fact, been associated with some autoimmune diseases and a variable prevalence of both organ- and nonorgan-specific autoantibodies has been detected in this condition.^2-4 As far as antihuman parietal cell antibody (HPCA) is concerned, prevalences reported vary from 4% to 6%^5,6 to 19%.⁷ To our knowledge, the titers and the correlation of this antibody with the actual occurrence of autoimmune atrophic gastritis (AG) in alopecia have never been accurately evaluated.On the basis of a previous study performed in a series of unselected patients with vitiligo,⁸ we have now evaluated patients with alopecia areata to verify the actual association of autoimmune AG with this condition. For