Role of serum androgens and prostate-specific antigen levels in males with androgenetic alopecia

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common form of hair loss. It is caused by the continuous miniaturization of affected hair follicles. Genetic factors and androgenic factors especially dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is a testosterone tissue metabolite, play major roles in the pathogenesis of AGA. Many studies suggest that AGA may be a marker of increased risk of prostate cancer. Objective: The study aimed to examine the role of serum androgens and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in males with AGA. Patients and Methods: The study included 80 participants: 40 men diagnosed with AGA and 40 age-matched healthy male volunteers as a control group. The authors also divided the patient group into two subgroups: frontal AGA group and vertical AGA group. All participants were subjected to measurement of serum level of testosterone, DHT, and PSA by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The study revealed that the mean serum level of testosterone and DHT in patients with AGA was higher than that in the control group, and the mean serum level of testosterone in vertical AGA group was higher than that in frontal AGA group. There was no significant difference between patients and controls regarding the mean serum level of PSA. Conclusion: This study showed that serum androgens play an important role in the development of AGA, and there is a strong association between serum level of androgens and staging of AGA, whether frontal or vertical.