Androgenetic Alopecia

New data from S. Ahouansou et al illuminate research in heart disease

Androgenetic Alopecia Library Library Home This article was published in Cardiovascular Business Week, which you can subscribe to online.

"Essential hypertension is linked to hyperaldosteronism and spironolactone, an antihypertensive drug which is a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, has been used for a long time in the treatment of androgenic alopecia. We recently observed in a double transgenic mouse model that overexpression of a mineralocorticoid receptor targeted to the skin induced the development of alopecia. We prospectively studied the association of hypertension and androgenetic alopecia in Caucasian men. Two hundred and fifty Caucasian men aged 35-65 years were consecutively recruited by 5 general practitioners (50 per practitioner). Data collected included age, androgenetic alopecia score with a simplified Norwood's score (0-4), blood pressure or history of hypertension, smoking, history of diabetes mellitus or hyperlipidemia, familial history of androgenetic alopecia, and treatment. Chi-square, Fisher exact tests and linear regression model were used for statistical analysis. Hypertension was strongly associated to androgenetic alopecia (p < 0.001). Linear regression tests confirmed that this association was independent of age : odds ratio was 2.195 (95% CI : 1.1-4.3). Familial history of androgenetic alopecia was also strongly associated with androgenetic alopecia : odds ratio was 10.870 (95% CI : 4.3-27.1). Other variables (diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, smoking, treatment) were not associated with androgenetic alopecia. We were limited by a relatively small study sample but in this study androgenetic alopecia was strongly associated with hypertension. Association of androgenetic alopecia and hyperaldosteronism warrants additional studies," wrote S. Ahouansou and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "The use of specific mineralocorticold receptor antagonists could be of interest in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia."

Ahouansou and colleagues published their study in European Journal of Dermatology (Association of androgenetic alopecia and hypertension. European Journal of Dermatology, 2007;17(3):220-222).

For additional information, contact V. Descamps, Hopital Avicenne, Dept. of Public Health, AP HP, F-93009 Bobigny, France.

The publisher's contact information for the European Journal of Dermatology is: John Libbey Eurotext Ltd., 127 Avenue de La Republique, 92120 Montrouge, France.

Keywords: France, Bobigny, Alopecia, Cardiology, Coronary Heart Disease, Dermatology, Genetics, Heart Disease, Hypertension.

This article was prepared by Cardiovascular Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Cardiovascular Business Week via NewsRx.com.