Background: Previous investigations have revealed an association of androgenetic alopecia (AGA), especially in younger subjects with severe early-onset AGA, with ischemic heart disease. Objective: To examine the possible association between early-onset alopecia and low-grade inflammation measured by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) that has been recommended for the assessment of the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Methods: The study population consisted of young men (n = 727, aged 25–34 years) participating in a national survey. The grade of alopecia was assessed by a trained nurse using the Norwood/Hamilton Classification Scale. Results: Men with moderate to extensive alopecia (17%) had a higher body mass index and larger waist, upper arm, hip and waist circumference than those with little to no alopecia (p < 0.05), and statistically insignificant differences were seen in the waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR), diastolic blood pressure and hs-CRP. With increasing hs-CRP, the mean WHR increased, but only among men with moderate to extensive alopecia (p = 0.043). Conclusion: Our findings show a relation between moderate to extensive alopecia and low-grade inflammation – a predictor of a future CVD – especially combined with central obesity, among men younger than 35 years.

Keywords:
Alopecia, Inflammation, High-sensitivity C-reactive protein, Obesity
1.
Hamilton JB: Patterned loss of hair in man; types and incidence. Ann NY Acad Sci 1951;53:708–728.
2.
Trüeb RM: Molecular mechanism of androgenetic alopecia. Exp Gerontol 2002;37:981–990.
3.
Ridker PM: Clinical application of C-reactive protein for cardiovascular disease detection and prevention. Circulation 2003;107:363–369.
4.
Rebora A: Baldness and coronary artery disease: the dermatologic point of view of a controversial issue. Arch Dermatol 2001;137:943–947.
5.
Gutersohn T, Scheidegger EP: Is baldness bad for the heart. Dermatology 2005;211:72–74.
6.
Pearson TA, Mensah GA, Alexander RW, Anderson JL, Cannon RO III, Criqui M, Fadl YY, Fortman SP, Hong Y, Myers GL, Rifai N, Smith SC Jr, Taubert K, Tracy RP, Vinicor F: Markers on inflammation and cardiovascular disease. Application to clinical and public health practice. A statement for Healthcare Professionals from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association. Circulation 2003;107:499–511.
7.
WHO MONICA Project: MONICA manual. http://www.ktl.fi/publications/monica/manual.
8.
European Health Risk Monitoring Project: Recommendation for indicators, international collaboration, protocol and manual of operations for chronic disease risk factor surveys. http:/www.ktl.fi/ehrm/documents.htm.
9.
Yusuf S, Hawken S, Ôunpuu S, et al: Obesity and the risk of myocardial infarction in 27,000 participants from 52 countries: a case-control study. Lancet 2005;5:1640–1649.
10.
Borodulin K, Laatikainen T, Salomaa V, Jousilahti P: Associations of leisure time, physical fitness, and estimated aerobic fitness with serum C-reactive protein among 3,803 adults. Atherosclerosis 2006;185:381–387.
11.
Norwood OT: Male pattern baldness: classification and incidence. South Med J 1975;68:1359–1365.
12.
Ellis JA, Stebbing M, Harrap SB: Genetic analysis of male pattern baldness and the 5α-reductase genes. J Invest Dermatol 1998;110:849–853.
13.
Nyholt DR, Gillespie NA, Health AC, Martin NG: Genetic basis of male pattern baldness. J Invest Dermat 2003;121:1561–1564.
14.
Perusse L, Rankinen T, Zuberi A, et al: The human obesity gene map: the 2004 update. Obes Res 2005;13:381–490.
15.
Pankow JS, Folsom AR, Cushman M, et al: Familial and genetic determinants of systemic markers of inflammation: the NHLBI Family Heart Study. Atherosclerosis 2001;154:681–689.
16.
Yudkin JS, Stehouwer CD, Emeis JJ, Coppack SW: C-reactive protein in healthy subjects: associations with obesity, insulin resistance, and endothelial dysfunction: a potential role for cytokines originating from adipose tissue?Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 1999;19:972–978.
17.
Willerson TW, Ridker PM: Inflammation and cardiovascular risk factor. Circulation 2004;109:II-2–II-10.
18.
Mahe YF, Michelet JF, Billioni N, et al: Androgenetic alopecia and microinflammation. Int J Dermatol 2003;39:576–584.
19.
Reaven GM: Role of insulin resistance in human disease. Diabetes 1988;37:1595–1607.
20.
Pi-Sunyer FX: The obesity epidemic: pathophysiology and consequences of obesity. Obes Res 2002;10:97S–104S.
21.
Hirsso P, Rajala U, Hiltunen L, et al: Association of low insulin sensitivity measured by QUICKI with hair loss in 55-year-old men. A Finnish population-based study. Diabetes Obes Metab2005;8:466–468.
22.
Mendall MA, Patel P, Ballam L, Strachan D, Northfield TC: C-reactive protein and its relation to cardiovascular risk factors: a population-based cross-sectional study. BMJ 1996;312:1061–1065.
23.
McLaughlin T, Abbasi F, Lamendola C, et al: Differentiation between obesity and insulin resistance in the association with C-reactive protein. Circulation 2002;106:2908–2912.
24.
Chumlea WC, Rhodes T, Girman CJ, Johnson-Levonas A, Lilly FRW, Ruishan W, Shumei SG: Family history and risk of hair loss. Dermatology 2004;209:33–39.
25.
Kapoor D, Malkin CJ, Channer KS, Jones TH: Androgens, insulin resistance and vascular disease in men. Clin Endocrinol 2005;63:239–250.
26.
Laaksonen DE, Niskanen L, Punnonen K, Nyyssönen K, Tuomainen TP, Valkonen VP, Salonen R, Salonen JT: Testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin predict the metabolic syndrome and diabetes in middle-aged men. Diabetes Care 2004;23:1036–1041.
© 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel
2007
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.