Grades Of Androgenetic Alopecia Research Articles

Effectiveness and safety of the ablative fractional 2940-nm Er: YAG laser for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia.

Laser sources have established their potential effect in inducing hair regrowth. No large cohort study has evaluated the effect of ablative fractional 2940-nm erbium yttrium aluminum garnet (Er: YAG) laser in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA). To investigate the efficacy and safety of the ablative fractional 2940-nm Er: YAG laser in combination with medication therapy for the treatment of AGA. We performed a retrospective study between first July 2021 to 30th December 2021. All included patients received oral finasteride and topical minoxidil, or combined with six sessions of Er: YAG laser at 2-week intervals. Patients were divided into medication or combined therapy groups. The efficacy of the two therapies was evaluated by the investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) scores and the patient's Likert satisfaction scale at week 12 and week 24. Changes in total, terminal and villous hair count, total and terminal hair diameter, and AGA grade were also recorded. Adverse events were evaluated at each follow-up. A total of 192 male patients with AGA were included, including 67 receiving combination treatment, and 125 receiving medication treatment. At week 24, the combination treatment afforded superior outcomes in the IGA score, patient's global assessment, total and terminal hair counts, and diameters (all P<0.05). No severe adverse events were reported in both groups. The combined therapy of ablative fractional Er: YAG laser and medication was superior in treating male AGA than single medication therapy without serious adverse effects.

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial to Assess the Efficacy of a Nutritional Supplement in Female Androgenic Alopecia

Introduction. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), the most common form of hair loss in women, is characterized by progressive hair thinning and loss of terminal hairs over frontal and parietal regions of the scalp. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the nutritional supplement Pilopeptan® WOMAN 5αR (PPT5α) composed of specific plant extracts, vitamins, and minerals in women with initial to moderate AGA. Methods. This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial study. Forty-seven women (aged 25–59 years) with AGA grade I/II were randomized to daily receive PPT5α (n = 24) or placebo (n = 23), and the treatment safety, as well as the percentages of terminal hair in frontal and parietal areas from trichoscopic images, was assessed at 0, 3, and 6 months. Secondary outcomes included self-assessed hair parameters and overall treatment satisfaction. Results. A total of 44 women completed the study. At 6 months, patients who received the nutritional supplement showed high percentages of terminal hair both in the frontal (77.6% vs 69.8%, p = 0.02 ) and parietal (77% vs 64.3%, p = 0.02 ) areas compared to the placebo group. Self-assessed evaluation of hair parameters showed an improvement in the reduction of hair loss and hair thickness both at the 3-month ( p = 0.004 and p = 0.012 ) and 6-month ( p = 0.009 and p = 0.004 ) visits. At the 3 month visit, the intervention group also showed higher treatment satisfaction p = 0.01 . No significant adverse events were reported. Conclusion. These results evidence that the nutritional supplement PPT5α may be beneficial in preventing progression or even improving the condition of AGA in the early stages.

Clinical and metabolic characteristics of males with early-onset androgenetic alopecia.

Background Men with early-onset androgenetic alopecia (AGA) often have an abnormal hormonal milieu. Objective To ascertain the clinico-phenotypic characteristics and the prevalence of hormonal and metabolic changes in men with early-onset AGA. Methods Consecutive male patients less than 30 years of age with a Norwood-Hamilton grade ≥3 AGA were recruited in this comparative cross-sectional study. After endocrine evaluation they were classified into two groups, that is, Group A consisting of subjects with an altered hormonal profile and Group B with normal hormonal profiles. The groups were assessed for differences in disease phenotype and severity (Norwood-Hamilton grade), insulin resistance and parameters of metabolic syndrome (ATP III guidelines). Results Altered hormonal profiles were seen in 34 of the 100 subjects with AGA, while insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome were noted in 44 and 26 respectively. Altered hormonal profiles were significantly associated with insulin resistance and severe alopecia (grade 4 and above Hamilton-Norwood Scale). Insulin resistant Group A patients had a significantly higher prevalence of severe alopecia (>grade 4) (P = 0.0036). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was similar in both groups. Limitation The cross sectional study design was a drawback of this study. Further, a control arm without AGA was not included and the sample size of 100 was selected arbitrarily. Conclusion An altered hormonal profile and insulin resistance was noted in a third of the males with early-onset AGA. Subjects with altered hormonal profiles had a higher prevalence of insulin resistance and were likely to have severe grades of AGA.

Non-ablative Er:YAG laser is an effective tool in the treatment arsenal of androgenetic alopecia.

BackgroundUp to 70% of the adult population worldwide is affected by androgenetic alopecia (AGA) hair loss. Laser therapy offers an addition or alternative to pharmaceutical and surgical treatment of hair regrowth, with non‐ablative lasers being preferred over ablative lasers in terms of safety and downtime. Combining laser therapy with different topical agents may result in better hair regrowth.ObjectiveThe aim was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of non‐ablative Er:YAG laser used in clinical practice, alone or in combination with other treatment modalities, in patients with both early and advanced stages of AGA.Methods and patientsSixteen patients (7 male and 9 female) with active AGA in different stages were treated with the non‐ablative Er:YAG laser (SMOOTHTM mode, 7 mm spot size, 7.00 J/cm2 pulse fluence, 3.3 Hz frequency) as a monotherapy or in combination with injections of platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) to the scalp, topical minoxidil, and oral supplements for the promotion and support of hair growth. Efficacy was assessed with clinical assessment of AGA grade (Ludwig scale for female / Norwood‐Hamilton scale for male) and with blind evaluation of hair quality in global photographs before and after treatment. Patients subjectively rated their satisfaction with the laser treatment on a scale from 0–3 and pain on a VAS scale from 0–10.ResultsAGA grade after treatment was lower compared to baseline (p = 0.015 and p = 0.125 in female and male patients, respectively). Blind evaluation indicated an improvement in hair quality in 93% of patients, either being described as much better (14%) or as better (79%), which was not correlated with age or AGA grade. The median satisfaction score was 3, and the median VAS score for pain was 2. The positive effect of the treatment on the hair quality is ongoing. No adverse reactions were reported.ConclusionsThe treatment was effective in treating AGA, confirmed by a decrease in AGA grade and by blinded evaluation of global photographs. Although the possible additive or complementary effect of topical minoxidil or nutraceuticals cannot be excluded, our results suggest that the non‐ablative Er:YAG laser SMOOTH™ mode as a monotherapy, or in combination with PRP, is an efficient and safe treatment for AGA—with a high satisfaction rate among patients regardless of patient age, AGA duration, or AGA stage.

Therapeutic implications of topical cetirizine 1% in treatment of male androgenetic alopecia: A case-controlled study.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common form of alopecia in men. Cetirizine, a second-generation H1 blocker, is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to decrease prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) production. To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of topical cetirizine in male patients with AGA. Two groups of 30 patients each (healthy males aged between 22 and 55years) with different grades of AGA classified according to the Hamilton-Norwood classification were recruited for this study. Group A subjects applied 1mL of 1% topical cetirizine daily, while group B subjects served as controls and were instructed to apply 1mL of a placebo solution for 6months. Dermoscopic assessment revealed significantly higher hair regrowth among the cetirizine-treated group (P<.001). The patients' satisfaction was significantly higher among the cetirizine-treated group (P<.001). The current study highlights a potential role cetirizine might have in treating AGA. It should be noted that studies are lacking in this regard and more randomized and controlled trials are warranted in order to confirm or refute such early findings.

Comparing Follicular Transection Rate in Revision FUE Cases Who Previously Underwent Various Types of Hair Restoration Surgery: An Exploratory Study

Background: Follicular unit excision (FUE) has come a long way in establishing itself as an alternative technique for hair restoration. There exists a plethora of scholarly work on FUE, albeit there is a paucity of evidence on variables that affect the outcome of revision FUE. A successful hair restoration surgery is, among other things, predicated on the surgery9s follicular transection rate (FTR). Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether there is an association between FTR and the type of hair restoration surgery patients had prior to their revision FUE; three surgical procedures were compared: strip harvesting (SH), FUE, and punch grafting (PG). Material & Methods: The sample size for this exploratory study was 40 (i.e., n=40), and all the subjects were men with different grades of androgenetic alopecia. The subjects had undergone an FUE revision surgery from January to December 2014, and had their FTR and partial transection rate (PTR) calculated for each session. We compared patients9 FTR and PTR among cases who had undergone various hair restoration techniques prior to their revision FUE. We defined FTR as complete transection of the graft, where all follicles in the graft are transected; PTR was defined as the incomplete transection of the graft, where at least one follicle in a graft is intact. Chi-square test of independence was conducted to compare FTR and PTR across revision FUE cases of patients who previously underwent SH, PG, or FUE. Results: Out of a total of 40 cases, 52.5% (21) had undergone FUE surgery earlier, 35% (14) SH, and 12.5% (5) PG as the primary surgery. The average FTR in patients who had undergone strip surgery earlier was 3.22 per 100 grafts, while it was 3.33 per 100 grafts and 3.54 per 100 grafts in those who had undergone previous FUE and punch grafting, respectively. Chi-square test of independence showed that there was no significant relationship between the type of hair restoration procedure cases had prior to their revision FUE and the FTR and PTR. Nonetheless, our results support a trend where FTR and PTR are likely to be high if the prior surgery is FUE; moreover, post-hoc calculations for statistical power showed that the current study was under-powered. Conclusion: Our findings suggest the type of hair restoration surgery men with androgenetic alopecia underwent prior to having a revision FUE might influence the success of the revision FUE. In addition, we noted revision FUE cases of male androgenetic alopecia are least likely to have high FTR if they had previously undergone strip harvesting. Furthermore, our calculations for statistical power from our exploratory study would be very useful for sample size determination in future studies.

Efficacy of Platelet-rich Plasma for Treating Androgenic Alopecia of Varying Grades.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has received growing attention as a valuable therapeutic tool in androgenetic alopecia (AGA). However, knowledge regarding specific effectiveness and satisfaction of PRP for different grades of AGA in male pattern hair loss (MPHL) and female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is missing. This study aims to ascertain and compare the efficacy and safety of PRP treatment for different grades of AGA in males and females over 6months. In this study, 51 MPHL patients with Norwood-Hamilton stage II-V and 42 FPHL patients with Ludwig stage I to III were enrolled for 6 monthly sessions of PRP injections. A longitudinal analysis was used to compare the hair density, thickness, and hair pull test over 6 months for MPHL and FPHL through generalized estimating equation (GEE) models. Phototrichograms of scalp inflammation and oil secretion, global photographs and overall patient satisfaction were also assessed. Consequently, improvement of hair density, hair thickness, hair pull test, the level of scalp inflammation and oil secretion were observed with statistical significance in all stages for both MPHL and FPHL at 6months. Noteworthy, lower level of alopecia (Grade II, III in MPHL and Grade I in FPHL) had better response to PRP, and also had a better tendency of increment of hair growth than that of high-grade patients with prolonged treatment. PRP injections, as an efficacious and reliable therapy, can be recommended for Grade II and Grade III in MPHL and Grade I in FPHL.

Correlation of Trichoscopic Findings in Androgenetic Alopecia and the Disease Severity.

Background:Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) refers to the appearance of the common nonscarring progressive patterned loss of terminal hair on the frontal scalp and/or vertex of the scalp in both men and women, seen with increasing age in genetically predisposed individuals. Until recently, a scalp biopsy was the only objective tool to diagnose and monitor the disease severity. Trichoscopy of scalp is a new noninvasive technique applied to facilitate the diagnosis of hair and scalp disorders using a manual or video dermatoscope. We found a significant difference in some of the variables such as brown peripilar sign (BPPS), white peripilar sign (WPPS), focal atrichia which may aid in the diagnosis of early and late stages of both male and female AGA along with its clinical correlation. No significant difference in the occipital area was found in all AGA patients.Aims:This study aims to study the trichoscopic findings of AGA and to correlate their relationship with disease severity in our tertiary care hospital.Settings and Design:This was a prospective, observational study.Subjects and Methods:A total of 91 patients (66 males and 25 females) of the age group between 18 and 70 years, were included in the study at the outpatient department of dermatology in 1 year. Each patient underwent a detailed general physical, systemic, and dermatological examination. The diagnosis of AGA was based on clinical grounds. The type of hair loss in each patient was recorded. Trichoscopic evaluation and capture of trichoscopic images was performed using an eScope Oitez Digital Microscope.Ethics:In accordance with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975 (revised in 2000), the study was approved by Ethical and Scientific Research committees of Care Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad.Statistical Analysis Used:Statistical analysis was carried out with R-studio. Statistical significance in the difference in the outcome variables between the stages was assessed by Fisher's exact test. The statistical test was considered statistically significant at P < 0.05.Results:A positive correlation between clinical and trichoscopic findings with respect to disease severity was seen in some of the variables in our study. Both male and female AGA patients have hair shaft thickness heterogeneity as the most common feature. BPPS is seen in early grades of AGA (P < 0.01); WPPS and focal atrichia are seen in later grades of AGA (P < 0.01). Scalp honeycomb pigmentation was most commonly seen in all stages and is not correlated to the disease severity of AGA.Conclusion:As trichoscopy can reveal early variations in hair follicle diameter long before hair loss becomes clinically visible and has the advantage of examining larger areas in a relatively short duration makes it a practical choice for clinic set up. It adds new easily recognizable images for visual teledermatology. Besides, the easy documentation allows the doctor and patient to view the video graphics images simultaneously and helps in evaluating a therapeutic response by comparing it with pre-treatment images.

A Comparative Study of Microneedling with Platelet-rich Plasma Plus Topical Minoxidil (5%) and Topical Minoxidil (5%) Alone in Androgenetic Alopecia.

Context:There are very few studies evaluating efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in hair restoration and its combination with microneedling. As far as ascertained, there is no study to evaluate efficacy of microneedling with PRP plus topical minoxidil (5%) versus topical minoxidil (5%) alone in androgenetic alopecia (AGA).Aims:This study aims (1) to compare the efficacy of (a) topical minoxidil (5%) alone and (b) topical minoxidil (5%) + microneedling with PRP in men between 18 and 50 years with AGA Grade III to V vertex (Norwood–Hamilton scale) and (2) to perform objective and subjective evaluation based on clinical improvement and photographic evidence.Settings and Design:The study was conducted in the outpatient department of dermatology, venereology, and leprology in tertiary care hospital. It was open, prospective study.Subjects and Methods:Fifty patients with AGA were selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. These patients were randomly divided into two groups of 25 patients each and were given following treatment: (i) Group A: topical minoxidil (5%) alone and (ii) Group B: topical minoxidil (5%) + microneedling with platelet-rich plasma (PRP).Statistical Analysis Used:Patients were assessed before starting the treatment and at the end of 6 months on the basis of (a) Patient's self-assessment based on standardized seven-point scale compared with baseline (b) Physician's assessment based on standardized seven-point scale of hair growth compared with baseline.Results:There was a significant improvement (P < 0.05) in both patients' assessment and investigator's assessment in Group B as compared to Group A at the end of 6 months.Conclusions:Microneedling with PRP is safe, effective, and a promising tool for the management of AGA.

Early-onset Male Androgenetic Alopecia and Metabolic Syndrome: Are They Associated?

Abstract Aims and objectives: To study the pattern of early-onset male androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and its association with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Study design: A case–control study was conducted in the tertiary care center, Department of Dermatology, from year 2012 to 2014. Materials and methods: A total number of 100 patients, 50 male patients with early-onset AGA cases and 50 age-matched controls, were enrolled. The Norwood–Hamilton classification was used to assess the grade of AGA. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Blood pressure, blood glucose, and lipid parameters along with waist circumference were assessed in all the study participants. Statistical analysis was done by using descriptive and inferential statistics using chi-square test and Z test for difference between two means. The statistical software used in the analysis was Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 17.0 and Graph Pad Prism 5.0, and the results with (p &lt; 0.05) were considered significant. Results: Most common grades of early-onset male AGA were 38% with grade IV, 26% with grade IIIv (vertex), and 16% with grade III. 50% of the case group with early-onset male AGA and 10% of control group patients had MetS (p &lt; 0.05). As compared with controls, patients with early-onset AGA had a statistically significant mean value for fasting blood sugar level (p-value 0.001), triglyceride level (p-value 0.013), waist circumference (p-value 0.004), systolic blood pressure (p-value 0.006), and diastolic blood pressure (p-value 0.010) respectively. There was no significant association between early-onset male AGA and serum levels of HDL, LDL, VLDL, and cholesterol (p &gt; 0.05). Conclusion: It is inferred from this study that the most common grade of early-onset male AGA was grades IV and III vertex. There also was association of early-onset male AGA with MetS. More prospective studies are required with a large sample size to justify the association between early-onset male AGA and MetS.

An observational Study of the Association between Androgenetic Alopecia and Size of the Prostate.

Introduction:Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is characterized by miniaturization of the hair follicle, leading to vellus transformation of the terminal hair follicle. It is caused by interactions between androgens, several genes, and environmental factors with hair follicles. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is highly prevalent among elderly men but infrequent in those younger than 40 years. Because both entities share a common pathogenesis and AGA manifests before the onset of BPH, there could be an association between AGA and BPH.Aim:To study the possible association between AGA and the size of prostate.Materials and Methods:Sixty-five consecutive male patients, 35–65 years of age with AGA of Hamilton–Norwood classification Grades 3–7, were included in the study. AGA of Grades 1 and 2 patients on treatment with minoxidil, finasteride, or other treatments for AGA with history of prostate cancer or prostate disease were excluded from the study. Prostate size was measured through transabdominal ultrasonography. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS software.Results:Of the 65 AGA patients, the mean age was 47.18 years. Grade 4 AGA was the most common grade seen in 19 patients (29.2%), out of which, most (47.4%) were in the 56–65 years age group. 52.3% patients had normal prostate volume, and 47.7% had an enlarged prostate. The percentage of patients with the normal and enlarged prostate in moderate Grade 3 AGA was 68.8% and 31.2%, and in severe Grade 6 AGA, it was 33.3% and 66.7%, respectively. Prostate enlargement was more likely to occur in severe AGA than in moderate AGA(odds ratio 3.311; P = 0.025, which is significant).Conclusion:This study revealed an increase in prostate size with increasing age, with higher prevalence of Grade 1 prostate enlargement in younger individuals, and with higher prevalence of Grade 3 prostate enlargement in elderly men. The study also found a positive correlation between AGA and prostate size, with higher grades of AGA having higher prostate volume.

Effect of minoxidil topical foam on frontotemporal and vertex androgenetic alopecia in men: a 104-week open-label clinical trial.

Topical minoxidil formulations have been shown to be effective in treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA) for 12months. Efficacy and safety in both frontotemporal and vertex regions over longer application periods have not been studied so far. To evaluate the effect of 5% minoxidil topical foam (5% MTF) in the frontotemporal and vertex areas in patients with moderate AGA over 104weeks. An 80-week, open-label extension phase was performed, following a 24-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in men with AGA grade IIIvertex to VI. Group 1 (n=22) received ongoing 5% MTF for 104weeks, Group 2 (n=23) received placebo topical foam (plaTF) until week 24, followed by 5% MTF until week 104 during the extension phase. Frontotemporal and vertex target area non-vellus hair counts (f-TAHC, v-TAHC) and cumulative hair width (f-TAHW, v-TAHW) were assessed at baseline and at weeks 24, 52, 76 and 104. In Group 1, f-TAHW and f-TAHC showed a statistically significant increase from baseline to week 52 and week 76, respectively, returning to values comparable to baseline at week 104. No significant differences were found between baseline and week 104 in v-TAHC in Group 1 as well as f-TAHC, v-TAHC, f-TAHW and v-TAHW values in Group 2. 5% MTF is effective in stabilizing hair density, hair width and scalp coverage in both frontotemporal and vertex areas over an application period of 104weeks, while showing a good safety and tolerability profile with a low rate of irritant contact dermatitis.

Male baldness; association with coronary artery disease?

Male baldness; association with coronary artery disease?

Androgenetic alopecia and polymorphism of the androgen receptor gene (SNP rs6152) in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia or prostate cancer

Both androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and carcinoma of the prostate (CaP) or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are androgen-dependent disorders. To investigate the relationships between male androgenetic alopecia, androgen receptor (AR) gene polymorphism (SNP rs6152) and clinical characteristics of BPH and prostate cancer. Overall, 309 male subjects with prostate disease (BPH or CaP) were examined. We evaluated the standard grades of AGA (I-VII) by Hamilton-Norwood classification and 195 patients were also assessed by phototrichogram. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and testosterone levels were also measured. Polymorphism rs6152 of the AR was evaluated from blood samples by PCR-RFLP. Data were statistically evaluated. The expected positive correlation between age and AGA grade and the expected negative correlation between hair density and age and between anagen/telogen and AGA were found. A statistically significant difference between patients with A and G alleles in terms of AGA grade was found. The predominant G allele was more frequent in patients with higher grade of alopecia and in patients with significantly higher PSA. There was no correlation between diagnosis (BPH or CaP) and polymorphism. Patients with prostate inflammation had a statistically significant higher grade of AGA, together with higher PSA. We confirmed that the AR gene polymorphism (SNP rs6152G>A) is associated with the development of AGA and higher PSA levels in patients with BPH but not cancer. A novel finding of our study is that BPH patients with prostate inflammation had a significantly higher grade of AGA together with significantly higher PSA levels.

Genetic analysis of 5 α reductase type 2 enzyme in relation to oxidative stress in cases of androgenetic alopecia in a sample of egyptian population

Objective: To study the genetic polymorphism of 5-α reductase type II enzyme in relation to oxidative stress in cases of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in a sample of Egyptian population. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 45 patients with different grades of AGA,and 45 healthy subjects as control group. Laboratory tests included DNA extraction from blood, amplification of the 5-α reductase type II by PCR and V89L mutation analysis by restriction endonuclease enzyme RsaІ, and estimation of the levels of plasma catalase and erythrocyte lysate superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes by colorimetric methods. Results: The studied subjects carrying the homozygote( LL) and the heterozygote (VL) genotypes were of no risk of developing AGA.(OR=0). Regarding the leucine allele, the studied subjects carrying the (L) allele were at about 3.7 higher risk of AGA .(OR=3.692), and the results were statistically significant (p<0.001). There was significant increase in the level of SOD and catalase in patients than in control group(p=0.005),and (p<0.001) respectively,plasma catalase is significantly higher in patients with LLvariant than inVL variant (p=0.020). Asignificant relations was found between the severity of the disease and age and family history (p=0.037), and (0.036) respectively, there was no significant correlation between the level of catalase enzyme and SOD in one hand and the severity of the disease among patients. Conclusions: There is a possible association between AGA and V89L genetic polymorphism of 5-alpha reductase type II enzyme, patients carrying the mutant leucine (L) allele have a risk for developing AGA. Also there is possible association between AGA with oxidative stress.

Androgenetic alopecia and risk of coronary artery disease

Background:Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) or male pattern baldness (MPB) has been found to be associated with the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). The well-known risk factors are family history of CAD, hypertension, increased body mass index (BMI), central obesity, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia. The newer risk factors are serum lipoprotein-a (SL-a), serum homocysteine (SH), and serum adiponectin (SA).Aim:Identifying individuals at risk of CAD at an early age might help in preventing CAD and save life. Hence, a comparative study of CAD risk factors was planned in 100 males of AGA between the age of 25 and 40 years with equal number of age- and sex-matched controls.Materials and Methods:Patients of AGA grade II or more of Hamilton and Norwood (HN) Scale and controls were examined clinically and advised blood test. The reports were available for fasting blood sugar (FBS), serum total serum cholesterol (SC) in 64 cases, 64 controls; lipoproteins (high, low, very low density, HDL, LDL, VLDL), serum triglycerides (ST) in 63 cases, 63 controls; SL-a in 63 cases, 74 controls; SH in 56 cases, 74 controls; and SA in 62 cases, 74 controls.Results:In these cases family history (FH) of AGA and CAD was significantly high. The blood pressure (BP) was also found to be significantly high in the cases. The difference of mean serum HDL, LDL, VLDL, ST, SH, and SL-a in cases and controls were statistically significant and with increasing grade of AGA, the risk factors also increased.Conclusion:Patients with AGA appear to be at an increased risk of developing CAD, therefore, clinical evaluation of cases with AGA of grade II and above may be of help in preventing CAD in future.

Finasteride, 1 mg daily administration on male androgenetic alopecia in different age groups: 10-year follow-up

Finasteride 1 mg is indicated for the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). However, more than 5 years efficacy and safety has not been previously reported. To assess the efficacy over 10 years in different age groups of men with AGA. 118 men, between 20 and 61 years, with AGA receiving finasteride (1 mg/day), were enrolled in this uncontrolled study. Efficacy evaluation was assessed with standardized global photographs at T0,T1,T2,T5,T10. Statistical analysis was made using frequency tables and evaluating the chi-square index with its p-value. Better improvements are observed in patients older than 30 years (42.8% aged between 20 and 30 years did not improve also after 10 years) or with higher AGA grades (58.9% for AGA grade IV and 45.4% for AGA grade V had the first improvement just after 1 year). In 21% of cases, the treatment continuation beyond 5 years provided better results. Side effects were referred by 6% of the patients; nevertheless, some of them went on with treatment because of the great results. In our opinion, the result after the first year can help in predicting the effectiveness of the treatment. Its efficacy was not reduced as time goes on; in fact, a big proportion of subjects unchanged after 1 year, improved later on, maintaining a positive trend.