Impact of Lisinopril on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Men With Hypertension and Early-onset Androgenetic Alopecia: A Pilot Study.

Abstract

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are at a high cardiometabolic risk. Early-onset male-pattern baldness is considered the phenotypic equivalent of polycystic ovary syndrome in men. The aim of this study was to assess whether early-onset androgenetic alopecia modifies cardiometabolic effects of lisinopril in men with arterial hypertension. The study population consisted of 62 young men with grade 1 hypertension, 31 of whom were diagnosed with early-onset male-pattern baldness (group A). Thirty-one blood pressure-matched men with normal hair growth (group B) served as a control group. All participants were treated with lisinopril (10-40 mg daily). Blood pressure, glucose homeostasis markers, urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), as well as plasma levels of uric acid, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), fibrinogen, homocysteine, total and calculated free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and estradiol were assessed before lisinopril treatment and 6 months later. At baseline, levels of all cardiometabolic risk factors were higher in group A than group B. Although lisinopril reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure, UACR, hsCRP, and fibrinogen in both study groups, these effects were stronger in group B than in group A. Only in group B, the drug decreased levels of uric acid and homocysteine, as well as improved insulin sensitivity. The impact of lisinopril on uric acid, hsCRP, fibrinogen, homocysteine, and UACR correlated weakly with its hypotensive properties, androgen levels, and insulin sensitivity. The obtained results suggest that cardiometabolic effects of lisinopril in men are less pronounced in case of coexisting early-onset androgenetic alopecia.