I hope that I'm not overstepping our group, but I have CD and AA so feel that I may have important information relating to their connection.
The following is some information I have gathered over the internet regarding their believed connection.

Abstract
Celiac disease is frequently associated with other auto-immune disorders but has never been reported in association with alopecia areata. In a routine clinical practice, 3 patients with such an association were observed. In one of the patients, celiac disease was diagnosed after the occurrence of malabsorption symptoms. In the youngest patient, a 14-year-old boy, glutenfree diet resulted in complete regrowth of scalp and body hair. A prospective screening program for celiac disease using antigliadin and antiendomysial antibodies was therefore set up in 256 consecutive outpatients with alopecia areata. Three patients, all completely asymptomatic for intestinal diseases, were found to be positive and underwent biopsy. Histological analysis showed a flat intestinal mucosa consistent with the diagnosis of celiac disease. The results show that alopecia areata may constitute the only clinical manifestation of celiac disease and that the association between these two conditions is a real one because the observed frequency of association is much greater than can be expected by chance. It is suggested that antigliadin and antiendomysial antibodies should be included in the work-up of patients with alopecia areata.
Copyright © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Feedback | About Article Finder | Help

Abstract
Background & Aims: The relationship between celiac disease and many autoimmune disorders has been explained by the sharing of a common genetic factor. In a multicenter national study, we examined the relationship between the prevalence of autoimmune disorders in celiac disease and the duration of exposure to gluten. Methods: Over a 6-month period, 909 patients with celiac disease (group A; mean age, 16.1 ± 3.8 years; grouped according to age at diagnosis into three subgroups [group A1, <2 years; group A2, 2-10 years; and group A3, >10 years]), 1268 healthy controls (group B; mean age, 20.8 ± 4.5 years), and 163 patients with Crohn's disease (group C; mean age, 28.8 ± 10 years) were evaluated for the presence of autoimmune disorders. Results: Prevalence of autoimmune disorders in group A was significantly higher than in group B (14% vs. 2.8%; P < 0.000001) but not higher than in group C (12.9%). Prevalence of autoimmune disorders in celiac disease increased with increasing age at diagnosis: 5.1% in group A1, 17% in group A2, and 23.6% in group A3 (P = 0.000001). In group A3, the prevalence of autoimmune disorders was significantly higher than in group C. In a logistic regression model, age at diagnosis was the only significant predictor variable of the odds of developing an autoimmune disorder (r = 0.3; P < 0.000001). Conclusions: Our data show for the first time that the prevalence of autoimmune disorders in celiac disease is related to the duration of exposure to gluten.
Copyright © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Feedback | About Article Finder | Help

Alopecia Areata And Celiac Disease
Patients With Autoimmune Hair Loss Have A High Rate Of Celiac Disease
By Nancy Lapid, About.com
Updated: April 28, 2008
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board
See More About:
 celiac disease research
 celiac medical issues
 celiac disease symptoms
 celiac disease diagnosis
Celiac Disease Ads
Gluten Intolerance Symptoms Celiac Disease Symptoms Blood Test for Celiac Disease Celiac Disease and Joint Pain Disease Damages
Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder, is frequently present in people who also have other autoimmune conditions, such as diabetes, thyroid disease, and autoimmune liver disease. Less well known, however, is an association between celiac disease and alopecia areata.
What Is Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia areata is a condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles. Alopecia areata usually starts with one or more small, round, smooth bald patches on the head and can eventually cause complete hair loss on the scalp or even on the entire body (a condition known as alopecia universalis).
Alopecia areata usually begins in childhood. It affects males and females equally. Approximately 2% of the population overall, including more than 5 million people in the United States, have alopecia areata.
What Is Known About Alopecia And Celiac Disease?
One of the first research studies linking alopecia with celiac disease was published in 1995. Italian doctors had noticed that several of their patients with alopecia also had celiac disease, and that in one of these patients -- a 14-year-old boy -- the missing hair on his scalp and body completely regrew after he adopted a gluten-free diet. This boy's case, and a few others, prompted the doctors to screen a large group of alopecia patients for celiac disease.
In fact, the doctors did find a relatively high rate of celiac disease in their patients - much greater than could be expected by chance. On the basis of this study, the doctors recommended that celiac disease antibody testing should be performed in all patients with alopecia areata.
Since then, there have been other medical research reports of celiac disease in association with alopecia areata.
Can A Gluten-Free Diet Help Reverse Alopecia Areata?
Unfortunately, there is no cure for alopecia areata. Most, but not all, of the research reports that describe patients with alopecia and celiac disease also report that the patients' hair grew back after they adopted a gluten-free diet. Even in people without celiac disease, however, the course of alopecia is very unpredictable, and sometimes the hair simply grows back by itself.
Where To Get More Information
More information about alopecia areata can be found at The National Alopecia Areata Foundation and The American Academy of Dermatology.
Sources:
Corazza GR et al. Celiac disease and alopecia areata: report of a new association. Gastroenterology 1995; 109:1333-7.
Naveh Y et al. Celiac disease-associated alopecia in childhood. J Pediatr 1999;134:362-4.
Bardella MT et al. Alopecia areata and coeliac disease: no effect of a gluten-free diet on hair growth. Dermatology 2000;200:108-10.
Barbato M et al. Alopecia and coeliac disease: report of two patients showing response to gluten-free diet.
The National Alopecia Areata Foundation
The American Academy of Dermatology.
Symptoms
 Typical and Atypical Symptoms of Celiac Disease
 Complications of Untreated Celiac Disease
 Dermatitis Herpetiformis
 Lactose Intolerance and Celiac Disease
 Depression and Celiac Disease
/mbiopage.htm/mbiopage.htm
Nancy Lapid
Celiac Disease Guide
 Sign up for my Newsletter
 My Blog
 My Forum


http://www1.mf.uni-lj.si/acta-apa/acta-apa-00-3/papadopoulos.html

Titre du document / Document title
Celiac disease and alopecia areata : report of a new association
Auteur(s) / Author(s)
CORAZZA G. R. (1) ; ANDREANI M. L. ; VENTURO N. ; BERNARDI M. ; TOSTI A. ; GASBARRINI G. ;
Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)
(1) Univ. L'Aquila, dep. internal medicine, L'Aquila, ITALIE
Résumé / Abstract
Celiac disease is frequently associated with other autoimmune disorders but has never been reported in association with alopecia areata. In a routine clinical practice, 3 patients with such an association were observed. In one of the patients, celiac disease was diagnosed after the occurrence of malabsorption symptoms. In the youngest patient, a 14-year-old boy, gluten-free diet resulted in complete regrowth of scalp and body hair. A prospective screening program for celiac disease using antigliadin and antiendomysial antibodies was therefore set up in 256 consecutive outpatients with alopecia areata. Three patients, all completely asymptomatic for intestinal diseases, were found to be positive and underwent biopsy. Histological analysis showed a flat intestinal mucosa consistent with the diagnosis of celiac disease. The results show that alopecia areata may constitute the only clinical manifestation of celiac disease and that the association between these two conditions is a real one because the observed frequency of association is much greater than can be expected by chance. It is suggested that antigliadin and antiendomysial antibodies should be included in the work-up of patients with alopecia areata.
Revue / Journal Title
Gastroenterology ISSN 0016-5085 CODEN GASTAB
Source / Source
1995, vol. 109, no4, pp. 1333-1337 (37 ref.)
Langue / Language
Anglais
Editeur / Publisher
Elsevier, New York, NY, ETATS-UNIS (1943) (Revue)
Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords
Coeliac disease ; Association ; Alopecia decalvans ; Pathophysiology ; Antibody ; Gliadin ; Diagnosis ; Case study ; Human ; Hair (head) ; Digestive diseases ; Intestinal disease ; Intestinal malabsorption ; Immunopathology ; Skin disease ;
Mots-clés français / French Keywords
Coeliaque maladie ; Association ; Pelade décalvante ; Physiopathologie ; Anticorps ; Gliadine ; Diagnostic ; Etude cas ; Homme ; Cheveu ; Appareil digestif pathologie ; Intestin pathologie ; Malabsorption intestinale ; Immunopathologie ; Peau pathologie ;
Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords
Enfermedad celíaca ; Asociación ; Alopecia decalvans ; Fisiopatología ; Anticuerpo ; Gliadina ; Diagnóstico ; Estudio caso ; Hombre ; Cabello ; Aparato digestivo patología ; Intestino patología ; Malabsorción intestinal ; Inmunopatología ; Piel patología ;
Localisation / Location
INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 2090, 35400005005062.0380

Copyright 2008 INIST-CNRS. All rights reserved
Toute reproduction ou diffusion même partielle, par quelque procédé ou sur tout support que ce soit, ne pourra être faite sans l'accord préalable écrit de l'INIST-CNRS.
No part of these records may be reproduced of distributed, in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of INIST-CNRS.
Nº notice refdoc (ud4) : 3684027


http://www.stopnowhairloss.com/2008/02/05/alopecia-areata-can-be-ca...

http://www.nutramed.com/celiac/celiacdisease.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluten-sensitive_enteropathy_associate...