Serologic Evaluation in Korean Female Pattern Hair Loss Patients

Bang, Chan Yl; Byun, Ji Won; Shin, Jeonghyun; Hwang, Seung Sik; Choi, Gwang Seong

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is the most common type of pattern hair loss in women. It has been suggested that FPHL is associated with several serological abnormalities.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics and serological abnormalities of the Korean FPHL patients and to compare them with the data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V and other relative reports.
METHODS
We retrospectively evaluated the age, duration and comorbidities in 264 Korean patients who have been diagnosed with FPHL. Serum levels of serum iron, total iron binding capacity, ferritin, hemoglobin, free thyroxine (T4), thyroid stimulating hormone, testosterone and 25-(OH) vitamin D were being investigated.
RESULTS
FPHL was most commonly found in patients aged from 20 to 29 years old and 55% of the patients visited the hospital one year after the onset of FPHL. In FPHL patients, the levels of testosterone, hemoglobin, serum ferritin, 25-(OH) vitamin D, thyroid stimulating hormone were all significantly higher than the average Korean adult women. And, the free thyroxine level was significantly lower than the average Korean adult women. When analyzed according to the menopausal status, premenopausal FPHL patients showed significantly higher serum levels of hemoglobin, ferritin, and 25-(OH) vitamin D than those of the Korean adult women. But, the postmenopausal FPHL patients showed significantly higher serum levels of 25-(OH) vitamin D than those of Korean adult women.
CONCLUSION
The levels of ferritin, testosterone and vitamin D of FPHL patients were elevated higher than those of the Korean adult women. To confirm these results in the future, further large scaled evaluation is suggested.