Morphological classification system of hair regrowth patterns in alopecia areata patches : DIMT classification = Morphological classification system of hair regrowth patterns in alopecia areata patches : DIMT classification

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Background: Patches of alopecia areata show various morphological patterns of hair regrowth during recovering from hair loss. These hair regrowth patterns have rarely been systematically studied or classified.
Objectives: To establish a classification system of the hair regrowth patterns found in alopecic patches in patients with alopecia areata based on the morphology.
Methods: On the basis of morphology, we developed a classification system for the hair regrowth patterns, which included diffuse, marginal, targetoid and irregular patterns. It is named as DIMT classification using acronym of patterns included (diffuse, irregular, marginal, targetoid). We applied this classification system to the patients with alopecia areata who attended our outpatient clinic and showed hair regrowth from their alopecic patches.
Results: 106 patches from 33 patients were analyzed. Of total, 36 (34.0%) showed diffuse pattern, 35 (33.0%) developed marginal pattern, 31 (29.2%) had targetoid pattern, and 4 (3.8%) showed irregular pattern.
Conclusion: This is the first study to classify hair regrowth patterns in alopecia areata patches based on the morphology, into diffuse, marginal, targetoid, and irregular patterns. This study provides new insights that hair regrowth pattern might be an important outcome measure in monitoring alopecia areata patients. It is further to be investigated whether these hair regrowth patterns are related to its pathogenesis or patients’ clinical outcomes.