Distinctive features of steroid hormone metabolism in female patients with androgenic alopecia

Abstract

Goal of the study. To study the role of metabolic disorders related to steroid hormones for the genesis of androgenic alopecia in women. Materials and methods. The authors disclose the results of a study of blood serum and saliva concentrations of steroid hormones in 87 female patients suffering from androgenic alopecia and 30 healthy women. Results. A regular menstrual cycle in most of the patients with androgenic alopecia (87.8%) and low (10.3%) rate of the polycystic ovary syndrome confirm the low prevalence of clinical manifestations related to endocrine disorders in female patients with alopecia. An increased level of dihydrotestosterone was revealed in 44.8% of the female patients with androgenic alopecia while total and free blood serum testosterone levels were increased only in 11.5% and 12.6% of the patients, respectively. These data may serve as an indirect indication at the increased activity of 5-alpha-reductase promoting conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. The authors confirmed the information value of the free testosterone saliva level for assessing the hormonal background in the patients under examination. Conclusion. Based on the study results, it is recommended to determine the concentration of dihydrotestosterone, free androgen index and free testosterone saliva level as a part of examinations of women suffering from androgynous alopecia to evaluate their hormonal background.