The Relation of Androgenetic Alopecia Severity with Epicardial Fat Thickness

Abstract

BackgroundAndrogenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most commonly encountered baldness pattern in men. Epicardial fat tissue is found on the cardiac surface between the myocardium and visceral pericardium. Both AGA and epicardial fat thickness (EFT) are related to coronary artery disease, which is also reflected by an increase in carotid intima media thickness (CIMT).ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the relation of AGA severity with EFT.MethodsOne hundred twenty-six male patients with AGA aged 18 to 55 years without histories of chronic disease were enrolled. Subjects were divided into three groups (mild, moderate, and severe) on the basis of the Hamilton baldness scale as modified by Norwood. Maximum EFT was measured at end-systole on the midventricular free wall of the right ventricle. CIMT was also recorded for all patients.ResultsThe groups did not have statistically significant differences with respect to age, height, weight, body mass index, left ventricular ejection fraction, or left atrial diameter (p>0.05 for all comparisons), but the severe group had a higher EFT compared with the moderate (p<0.001; z score, -7.040) and mild groups (p<0.001; z score, -6.667). The moderate group also had higher EFT than the mild group (p<0.001; z score, -5.931). Mean CIMT value in the severe group was significantly higher compared with the value in the other groups.ConclusionThe study showed that subjects in advanced stages of AGA had increased EFT, which was measured via echocardiography.

Epicardial Fat Thickness in Children with Classic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

“…In addition, testosterone correlated positively and significantly with EFT. Colgecen et al (44) reported that subjects in advanced stages of androgenetic alopecia had higher echocardiographically measured EFT than controls. Moreover, Cakir et al (45) reported a strong positive correlation between testosterone concentrations and EFT in patients with polycystic ovarian disease.…”

Expression of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription-3 in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Case-Control Study

“…The Norwood-Hamilton baldness scale [7] was utilized to classify the patients into three groups. AGA stages II and IIa were categorized as mild; AGA stages III, IIIa, III vertex, IV, IVa, V, and Va were moderate; and AGA stages VI and VII were classified as severe [8].…”

Androgenetic alopecia as a cardiovascular risk factor

“…Ertas et al examined 51 men with androgenetic alopecia, which began before they turned 30, and described a significantly higher IMT values in patients with alopecia affecting the vertex of the scalp [12]. An analysis of Colgecen et al showed a positive correlation between the IMT and androgenetic alopecia [13].…”

“…przebadali 51 mężczyzn z łysieniem androgenowym, które rozpoczęło się przed 30. rokiem życia, i stwierdzili znacznie większą wartość wskaźnika IMT u pacjentów z łysieniem w okolicy wierzchołkowej [12]. Analiza, którą przeprowadzili Colgecen i wsp., wykazała dodatnią korelację pomiędzy wskaźnikiem IMT a łysieniem androgenowym [13].…”