Female pattern alopecia and lipoproteins

The meaningful association of androgenetic alopecia and coronary heart disease had been well documented, but few studies had been focused on the importance of lipid parameters in patients with androgenetic alopecia. To investigate the lipid profile and its relation to female pattern alopecia. This is a case controlled study conducted at the Department of Dermatology and Venereology-Baghdad Teaching Hospital, between January 2001 and April 2002. Sixty female patients with androgenetic alopecia were enrolled in this work. From each patient a detailed history and full clinical examination were performed regarding all demographic points relative to the disease, grading of alopecia and measurement of serum lipoproteins was done. Female pattern alopecia was classified according to Sharquei's classification Sixty age and weight matched females with normal hair status were considered as a control group. Measurement of serum lipoproteins also performed for them. Sixty patients, their ages ranged between 20-60 years with mean +/- SD of 30.3 +/- 9.4 years. Twenty [33.3%] patients were having grade I, 20 [33.3%] patients grade II and another 20 [33.3%] patients grade III. The mean levels of total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein in all patients and those with grade II and III separately were significantly higher when compared to the control group. On the other hand, the mean levels of high density lipoprotein in all patients and those with grade I and III separately were lower in comparison to the control. The atherogenic index or risk ratio was found to be significantly high in patients with female pattern alopecia and this goes parallel with the severity of baldness