Beyond the Scalp: Deciphering the Complexities of Alopecia Areata Diagnosis & Assessment

Presented by Pfizer Inc.

Alopecia areata (AA) is a complex autoimmune disease with a range of clinical presentations requiring a holistic approach to diagnosis and assessment. Join our session, where experts will explore the practicalities of patient assessment, beyond hair loss alone. 

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST HERE

AA usually presents as single or multiple, round or oval patches of hair loss on the scalp; however, the clinical diagnosis and assessment is complicated by the fact AA has a multitude of clinical presentations and an unpredictable course.1–5 Furthermore, the disease can impact more than just the scalp, extending to other hair-bearing sites, such as the beard, eyebrows, and eyelashes, as well as the fingernails and toenails.5–7  In addition, AA is associated with an increased risk of a range of diverse systemic diseases.8

It is important to recognize that AA is a medical disease that affects nearly every aspect of a patient’s life.8–11 As such, the multidimensional burden of AA is not always linked to the extent of hair loss.12 Therefore, when diagnosing and assessing patients with AA, it is critical to look beyond the scalp to ensure a complete picture of the disease impact.

In this Pfizer-sponsored Industry Non-CME (INC) Program, participants will be given the opportunity to engage in small-group interactive workshops with a panel of AA experts, who will walk through the steps involved in the holistic diagnosis and assessment of patients with AA. The following topics will be covered during the session:

  • AA Recognition & Diagnosis: Join Dr. Jerry Shapiro (Professor of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine), who will review the clinical presentation of AA, differential diagnosis, and the step-by-step process for making an accurate clinical diagnosis.
  • AA Assessment (Extent): Dr. Maryanne Senna (Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School; Director, Lahey Hair Loss Center of Excellence) will discuss the available tools used to assess the extent and activity of hair loss in AA, including the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) and the Alopecia Areata Scale (AASc). 
  • AA Assessment (Impact): Looking beyond the scalp, Dr. Crystal Aguh (Associate Professor of Dermatology and Director, Ethnic Skin Program and Fellowship, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine) will review additional factors to consider when assessing AA severity, including the multidimensional impact on patients’ daily life.

We hope that you will join us for this unique, interactive program! 
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST HERE

When: Thursday, March 16 | 6:30 pm Registration & Dinner | 7:15 pm Program

Where: New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District Hotel | Cypress Ballroom

References:

  1. Finner AM. Dermatol Ther. 2011;24(3):348–54.
  2. Cranwell WC, et al. Australas J Dermatol. 2019;60(2):163–70. 
  3. Jain N, et al. Int J Trichology. 2013;5(4):170–8. 
  4. King BA, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2022;86(2):359–64. 
  5. Pratt CH, et al. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:17011.
  6. Liu LY, King BA. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;80(6):1778–9. 
  7. Cervantes J, et al. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2017;18(6):789–6. 
  8. Lee S, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;80(2):466–77.e16.
  9. Burns LJ, et al. Int J Trichology. 2020;12(5):197–204. 
  10. Mesinkovska N, et al. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. 2020;20(1):S62–8. 
  11. Davey L, et al. Br J Dermatol. 2019;180(6):1377–89. 
  12. King BA, et al. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2022;12(4):825–34.

Pfizer does not have any approved treatments for alopecia areata.
Derm is a medical education program being developed for healthcare professionals only and is organized by Pfizer. This program is independent and is not part of the official AAD Annual Meeting, as planned by its Scientific Assembly Committee. This program does not qualify for Continuing Medical Education (CME) Credit. PP-RIL-USA-0364 ©2023 Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved. March 2023.