Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd.1988;48:203

Hormonal diagnosis in so-called androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss) in the female

Moltz L.

Androgenetic alopecia or pattern hair loss occurs quite frequently. Up to 79% of women suffer at least temporarily from varying degrees of intermittent diffuse hair loss in the centro-parietal and/or fronto-temporal regions. A.A. is caused by an androgen excess acting on the hair follicle for prolonged periods of time in the presence of a genetic predisposition. However, often hyperandrogenemia cannot be demonstrated in such patients. 125 women with clinically typical a.A. were investigated prospectively under standardized conditions. Patient age ranged from 18 to 68 years. Atypical uterine bleeding such as menorrhagia, hypermenorrhea and polymenorrhea were found in 69 women. The hair loss varied between 50 and 400 hairs per day. Additional signs of hyperandrogenism, i.e. seborrhea, acne and hirsutism, were often observed. snip.. Treatment was directed at normalizing the disturbed estrogen-androgen-balance. Using low-dose antiandrogens, estrogens, prolactin suppressants, corticoids, iron-II-preparations as well as estrogen-containing hair lotions hair loss was arrested in 74 of 104 treated women, while regrowth of hair was accomplished in 16 patients. 14 women did not respond to therapy.

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