[Male androgenetic alopecia and cardiovascular risk factors: A case-control study]. / Alopecia androgénica masculina y factores de riesgo cardiovascular: estudio de casos y controles.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The relationship between androgenetic alopecia and cardiovascular disease has been studied by some authors in the past, although the results of epidemiological studies have been variable. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and carotid arteriosclerosis in patients with early-onset androgenetic alopecia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy men were studied, 35 with diagnosis of early-onset (before 35 years of age) androgenetic alopecia and 35 control subjects who consulted for other skin conditions. In both groups, the criteria for metabolic syndrome according to the Adult Treatment Panel-III were studied (obesity, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and blood glucose), presence of atheromatous plaques, and carotid intima-media thickness using Doppler ultrasonography. Other cardiovascular risk factors, hormones, and acute-phase reactants were also analyzed. RESULTS: Criteria for metabolic syndrome were met by 57.1% of the patients with androgenetic alopecia compared to 14.3% of the controls (P<0001). Thirty-four percent of the patients with androgenetic alopecia had atheromatous plaques compared to 8.6% of the controls (P=.018). In an independent correlation analysis, abdominal obesity, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, and blood glucose levels were significantly greater among patients with androgenetic alopecia. Testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin levels were similar in the 2 groups whereas insulin and aldosterone levels were higher in patients with androgenetic alopecia (P<05). CONCLUSIONS: The high frequency of metabolic syndrome and carotid atheromatous plaques in patients with androgenetic alopecia suggests cardiovascular screening should be done to enable early detection of individuals at risk and initiation of preventive treatment before cardiovascular disease becomes established.

Alopecia androgénica masculina y factores de riesgo cardiovascular: estudio de casos y controles / Male androgenetic alopecia and cardiovascular risk factors: A case-control study

Introducción y objetivos: La relación entre la alopecia androgénica (AAG) y la enfermedad cardiovascular ha sido objeto de estudio por parte de algunos autores en las últimas décadas, y se han obtenido diferentes resultados en los distintos estudios epidemiológicos. El objetivo de este trabajo es conocer la prevalencia del síndrome metabólico y de la arteriosclerosis carotídea en los pacientes con AAG de inicio precoz. Pacientes y métodos: Se han estudiado 70 pacientes varones, 35 diagnosticados de AAG de inicio precoz (antes de los 35 años) y 35 controles atendidos por otras enfermedades dermatológicas. En ambos grupos se estudiaron los criterios de síndrome metabólico que propone la ATP-III (obesidad, trigliceridemia, cHDL, presión arterial sistólica, presión arterial diastólica y glucemia), la presencia de placa de ateroma y el grosor íntima-media carotídeo mediante ecografía Doppler. También se analizaron otros factores de riesgo cardiovascular, un estudio hormonal y de reactantes de fase aguda. Resultados: El 57,1% de los pacientes con AAG cumple criterios de síndrome metabólico frente al 14,3% del grupo control (p<0,0001). El 34% de los pacientes con AAG presentó placa de ateroma frente al 8,6% de los controles (p=0,018). Los valores de obesidad abdominal, presión arterial sistólica, trigliceridemia y glucemia analizados de forma independiente fueron estadísticamente superiores en el grupo de pacientes con AAG. Los niveles de testosterona y de la proteína transportadora de hormonas esteroideas fueron similares en ambos grupos; sin embargo, los niveles de insulina y aldosterona resultaron ser mayores en el grupo de pacientes con AAG (p<0,05). Conclusiones: La elevada frecuencia con la que se presenta el síndrome metabólico y la ateromatosis carotídea en los pacientes con AAG hace necesario un cribado cardiovascular para detectar precozmente a aquellos individuos en riesgo e iniciar tratamiento preventivo antes de que se establezca la enfermedad cardiovascular (AU)

Background and objectives: The relationship between androgenetic alopecia and cardiovascular disease has been studied by some authors in the past, although the results of epidemiological studies have been variable. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and carotid arteriosclerosis in patients with early-onset androgenetic alopecia. Patients and methods: Seventy men were studied, 35 with diagnosis of early-onset (before 35 years of age) androgenetic alopecia and 35 control subjects who consulted for other skin conditions. In both groups, the criteria for metabolic syndrome according to the Adult Treatment Panel-III were studied (obesity, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and blood glucose), presence of atheromatous plaques, and carotid intima-media thickness using Doppler ultrasonography. Other cardiovascular risk factors, hormones, and acute-phase reactants were also analyzed. Results: Criteria for metabolic syndrome were met by 57.1% of the patients with androgenetic alopecia compared to 14.3% of the controls (P<0.0001). Thirty-four percent of the patients with androgenetic alopecia had atheromatous plaques compared to 8.6% of the controls (P=0.018). In an independent correlation analysis, abdominal obesity, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, and blood glucose levels were significantly greater among patients with androgenetic alopecia. Testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin levels were similar in the 2 groups whereas insulin and aldosterone levels were higher in patients with androgenetic alopecia (P<0.05). Conclusions: The high frequency of metabolic syndrome and carotid atheromatous plaques in patients with androgenetic alopecia suggests cardiovascular screening should be done to enable early detection of individuals at risk and initiation of preventive treatment before cardiovascular disease becomes established (AU)

Elevated aldosterone levels in patients with androgenetic alopecia.

BACKGROUND: There is reported to be an elevated prevalence of hypertension among patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA), and it has been proposed that both phenomena may be explained by the presence of hyperaldosteronism. However, no data on aldosterone levels in patients with AGA have been published to date. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate aldosterone levels and the presence of hypertension in patients with AGA and in healthy controls. METHODS: This case-control study included 40 patients with AGA and 40 healthy controls from the Dermatology Department of San Cecilio Hospital, Granada, Spain. RESULTS: Patients with AGA showed significantly higher systolic blood pressure values (136.23 vs. 124.10 mmHg, P = 0.01) and aldosterone levels (197.35 vs. 133.71 pg mL(-1), P = 0.007) vs. controls. CONCLUSION: The elevated aldosterone values in these patients may contribute, together with other mechanisms, to the development of AGA and may also explain the higher prevalence of hypertension. Blood pressure screening of patients with AGA will permit earlier diagnosis of an unknown hypertension and initiation of appropriate treatment.