Aim:

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common health problem which is well associated with hair loss in both male and female subjects by the effect of androgens under the presence of genetic predisposition. Recent studies showed that there is an increased risk for coronary ar-tery disease in AGA patients. The aortic stiffness index (ASI) and the carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) are accepted as a strong marker for the presence of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is to determine the possible correlation of CIMT and ASI with presence of AGA.

Materials and methods:

A total of 159 male asymptomatic AGA patients between 18-55 years old without any history of chronic disease enrolled to the study. Patients were classified in the means of their AGA stage as group I (stage 1-2) (n=49), group II (stage 3-5) (n=71) and group III (stage 6) (n=39) according to the Hamilton scale. Echocardiography was used to determine the elastic properties of aorta assessed by ASI and aortic distensibility (AD) parameters. CIMT was measured by color Doppler ultrasonography. ASI, AD and mean CIMT were calculated. The data including the patient’s metabolic profile and anthropometric measurements were rec-orded.

Results:

There was no significant difference between the groups in the means of age, height, body mass index, and left ventricle ejection fraction. The values of mean ASI, CIMT and systolic blood pressures were significantly higher in group III than group I and group II statistically (p<0.001 for all three parameters). On the other hand, AD was significantly higher in group I compared with group II and III statistically (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

ASI and AD are parameters reflecting the aortic elastic properties. In case of an aortic elasticity deterioration, ASI value increases while AD value decrease. This study con-cluded that the patients at higher stages of AGA had higher CIMT and more deteriorated aor-tic elasticity which are indicators of atherosclerosis. Thus, we assumed that patients with ad-vanced AGA stages may have subclinical atherosclerosis more commonly compared to the patients with beginning stages of AGA.

Keywords: Atherosclerosis, Androgenetic alopecia, arterial stiffness index, aortic disten-sibility, carotid intima media thickness