Journal of

Background and Aim: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common cause of hair loss after puberty and its association with comorbid diseases including metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases has become well known over the past two decades. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between androgenetic alopecia with carotid artery intima media thickness as a marker for early diagnosis of atherosclerosis in women.

Methods: Fifty-four women, 27 with AGA and 27 healthy controls were enrolled in this case-control study. Demographic and clinical information of the patients were recorded in the predesigned questionnaires. Carotid intima media thickness was measured using ultrasound and the obtained data were recorded as well. Mann-Whitney and t tests were used to make comparisons between the two groups.

Results: The mean age of case and control groups were 28.8 ± 6.6 and 28.1 ± 6.7 years, respectively. No statistically significant association between AGA and carotid intima media thickness was found, although the findings showed an increase in carotid intima media thickness in patients (P>0.05) No statisctically significant association between carotid intima media thickness and the onset of disease, grade or pattern of AGA was found (P>0.05).

Conclusion: The results of this study did not show any statistically significant relationship between AGA and carotid intima media thickness. However, increased carotid intima media thickness in patients with AGA was found. Better designed studies with larger sample size are recommneded to evaluate carotid intima media thickness as a predictor for cardiovascular disease.