Risk of Fibroids Increased in Women with CCCA

Five Fold increased Risk of Fibroids in Women with CCCA  

A new study, published in JAMA Dermatology, has given evidence that women with central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) are at increased risk of developing benign uterine tumors known as fibroids.  The medical terms for these are uterine leiomyomas.

CCCA is a type of scarring alopecia that occurs predominantly in women with afro-textured hairs. This new data suggests that a genetic predisposition to develop excessive scar tissue in other area of the body may be central to the underlying mechanisms that cause these two diseases.  

The researchers analyzed data from over 487,000 black women and examined the incidence of fibroids in women with CCCA and those without CCCA. Out of 486,000 women in the general population,  3.3 % had fibroids. However, 13.9 % of women with CCCA were found to have fibroids. Taken together, this works out to a five fold increased risk of fibroids in women with CCCA.

Conclusion

There is an increased risk of uterine fibroids in women with CCCA.  Whether there is an increased risk of other scarring related diseases of the body warrants further study.

REFERENCE

 
Dina et al. Association of Uterine Leiomyomas With Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia. JAMA Dermatology, 2017; DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.5163