Telogen Effluvium: Potential causes in Iraq

Abstract

: Background: Telogen Effluvium (TE) among women is a challenging common problem for Dermatologists and data on its prevalence among Iraqi women is limited hair loss is a distressing problem for women because femininity and attractiveness is linked to women's hair. Aim of study: To find out the main risk factors of Telogen Effluvium among women in Thi-Qar Province ( Iraq ). Some of these risk factors are investigated before in Iraq but not in Thi-Qar province such as TSH while others such as Vitamin D are barely investigated in Iraq. Patients and methods: A descriptive cross sectional study carried out in Dermatology Outpatient Clinic of Al-Hussein Teaching Hospital, Nassiriah City ( Thi-Qar Province Center), Iraq through the period from 1 st of March, 2014 to the end of June, 2015 on random sample of 100 women with Telogen Effluvium and convenient sample of 100 healthy controls. Thyroid stimulating hormone, serum Ferritin and Vitamin D 3 levels of both groups were measured. Results: There was a significant association between positive family history of hair loss and women with Telogen Effluvium (p<0.001). No significant difference in thyroid stimulating hormone level was observed between cases and controls (p=0.6). There was a significantly lower serum Ferritin and Vitamin D 3 levels among women with Telogen Effluvium (p<0.05). Conclusion: Low serum Ferritin and Vitamin D3 levels among women might play a major role in etiology of Telogen Effluvium.