Coronary heart disease risk factors in male-type androgenetic alopecia

ABSTRACT

Hyperandrogenaemia and androgenetic alopecia has some association with increased risk of coronary heart disease. Conflicting data has since been reported with regards to levels of biochemical markers of coronary heart disease risk factors in androgenetic alopecia. A case control study was planned to evaluate biochemical markers of coronary heart disease in hyperandrogenaemia of males and androgenetic alopecia. Patients of androgenetic alopecia [n=22] were men with fronto-occipital baldness, aged 20-30 years. Healthy controls [n=20] were age-matched males without alopecia. The individuals with clinical evidence of any systemic or localised scalp disease were excluded. Levels of fibrinogen, glucose, Insulin, uric acid, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were measured. The levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, insulin, glucose, and uric acid in patients of androgenetic alopecia when compared with normal controls were raised significantly. Fibrinogen levels were raised while HDL-Cholesterol was lower in patients than controls but the difference was not significant statistically. The results support the hypothesis that androgenetic alopecia in males is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease