Abstract

LOBO, Inês; MACHADO, Susana  and  SELORES, Manuela. Androgenetic alopecia in trichology consultation at the Hospital Geral de Santo António (Oporto - Portugal, 2004-2006): a descriptive study with an analytic component. An. Bras. Dermatol. [online]. 2008, vol.83, n.3, pp. 207-211. ISSN 1806-4841.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0365-05962008000300003.

BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia is the most frequent cause of progressive hair loss. It usually affects individuals with genetic predisposition and sufficient circulating androgens. OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical and epidemiology aspects of androgenetic alopecia in females. METHODS: A cross-sectional and descriptive study was performed. The sample comprised a group of women with androgenetic alopecia seen in trichology consultation from 2004 to 2006. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square test. RESULTS: A total of 200 women with clinical diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia were studied. Family history was detected in 68% of patients, and the most common site was frontoparietal hairline. The laboratory tests showed that 17% of females had low zinc and 9% low albumin and ferritin levels. Twenty percent of patients presented changes in hormone levels. CONCLUSION: The most common laboratory finding in the patients studied was hormone changes.

Keywords : Alopecia; Hair; Laboratory techniques and procedures.