NORMAL SWEAT SECRETION RATE IN PATIENTS WITH ALOPECIA-AREATA

We have examined sweat secretion rates in 22 patients with alopecia ar eata, and 22 age- and sex-matched controls. Mean sweat rate on the for earm in patients with alopecia areata was 20 mg/cm(2) per h (95% confi dence limits 15-25 mg/cm(2) per h), and in controls was 24.1 mg/cm(2) per h (95% confidence limits 19.1-29.1 mg/cm(2) per h). Sweat secretio n was higher in males than females in both the disease and control gro ups (27.8 mg/cm(2) per h [95% confidence limits 21.3-34.3 mg/cm(2) per h], compared with 18.08 mg/cm(2) per h [95% confidence limits 14.63-2 1.6 mg/cm(2)]; P > 0.01). Our results confirm the previously reported sex difference in sweat secretion rate, and demonstrate that there is no statistically significant difference between patients with alopecia areata and controls. We discuss our results in the light of a previou s report claiming that patients with alopecia areata have reduced rate s of cholinergic-induced sweating.