Troponin I in alopecia areata and female pattern hair loss

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate troponin I level in patients with alopecia areata and those with female pattern hair loss in comparison with controls.BackgroundAlopecia areata is an autoimmune disease with a variable, typically relapsing or remitting course. Its incidence rate is 2%. Alopecia areata is associated with numerous comorbid diseases including hypothyroidism, celiac disease, type 1 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and atherosclerosis. All these comorbidities are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Female pattern hair loss is a nonscarring progressive thinning of hair. Its incidence rate is 12%. It is often associated with dyslipidemia, obesity, insulin resistance, and hypertension as comorbidities. Cardiovascular diseases are of particular importance as they often directly affect the patients' mortality.Patients and methodsThis case–control study was carried out on 29 female patients with alopecia areata, 30 cases with female pattern hair loss, and 23 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls. All participants were subjected to a full history taking, general examination, and local examination with assessment of alopecia areata by Severity of Alopecia Tool score and assessment of female pattern hair loss by Ludwig classification. Troponin I level was done for all cases and controls.ResultsOur results showed that patients with alopecia areata had significantly higher mean levels of cardiac troponin I than female pattern hair loss group and control group.ConclusionHigh troponin I levels in patients with alopecia areata reinforces the association between alopecia areata and cardiovascular diseases compared with female pattern hair loss and normal population.