Evaluation of serum level of sex hormones in women with frontal fibrosing alopecia in comparison to healthy controls.

Abstract

The pathogenesis of frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is still unknown while hormonal factors have been postulated to play a role. There is scarce evidence with divergent results on the role of sex hormones in FFA. To evaluate the possible association between sex hormone levels and FFA, this study included 30 female cases of FFA and 34 healthy controls. Serum free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), 17-OH progesterone, androstenedione, and prolactin levels were measured in all subjects. Median and interquartile ranges of DHEAS and androstenedione were 79.26 (52.91-195.50) and 1.41 (0.90-2.29) in patients and 152.34 (81.72-218.63) and 2.31 (1.54-2.84) in healthy controls, respectively. The serum levels of DHEAS and androstenedione were significantly lower in FFA patients in comparison with healthy controls (P-value = .038 and .012, respectively). There were no significant differences in serum levels of free testosterone, LH, FSH, 17-OH progesterone, and prolactin between the FFA group and the control group The lower serum levels of DHEAS and androstenedione in FFA patients compared to controls is supporting a new growing concept of the low androgen level theory in the pathogenesis FFA, while the exact mechanism, clinical significance, and also the potential therapeutic effects of these hormones in FFA remain to be determined in future studies.