Reticulocyte hemoglobin content as a best indicator of iron deficiency in female patients with diffuse non-scarring hair loss

Abstract

Iron deficiency is a well-known cause of diffuse nonscarring hair loss in women. One of the rapidly diving cells in the body is the hair follicle matrix cells and iron is a cofactor for the ribonucleotide reductase which is the ratelimiting enzyme for DNA synthesis and, also is a regulator for multiple genes in the hair follicles. Iron deficiency without anemia is far more prevalent and about two-folds higher than iron deficiency anemia and iron deficiency is more prevalent in women than men. Iron deficiency with or without anemia is more common in menstruating women, black race, athletes, vegetarians and obese or overweight