Evaluating Testosterone and Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (DHEA-S) as Biomarkers for Male Androgenetic Alopecia

Background: Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) is a hereditary androgen-dependent disorder characterized by a gradual conversion of terminal hair into miniaturized hair with typical bitemporal recession and balding vertex and is considered the most common type of baldness characterized by progressive hair loss. Aims and objectives: This study evaluated the testosterone and Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (DHEA-S) in males with androgenetic alopecia. Methods: This case control study was carried out in the department of Dermatology & Venereology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka during the period of January 2024 to December 2024. A total of 70 patients with androgenetic alopecia and without history of androgenetic alopecia were included in the study. The study had 35 male patients presenting with patterned hair loss were recruited as AGA group, whereas 35 had age and sex-matched with no evidence of hair loss were recruited as control group. Serum FSH, LH, prolactin, testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S and free androgen index were estimated. Results: In this study, the mean age was 25.7±2.7 years in AGA group and 25.3±2.5 years in control group. The mean BMI was 26.6±2.5 kg/m2 in AGA group and 26.0±2.7 kg/m2 in control group. The difference were not statistically significant (p>0.05) between AGA and control groups. Mean serum LH (7.6±1.5 vs. 4.7±1.4 µIU/mL; P =0.001), serum prolactin (14.0±3.8 vs. 10.8±4.4 ng/ml; P =0.001), serum testosterone (6.5±1.9 vs. 5.2±2.0 ng/ml; P =0.005), DHEA-S (297.0±11.7 vs. 260.9±14.7 µg/dl) and free androgen index (72.5±30.8 vs. 49.2±27.1; P =0.001) are significantly increased in AGA group than control groups. The mean serum FSH (3.9±1.5 vs. 5.5±2.5 µIU/mL; P =0.002) and SHBG (23.4±6.2 vs. 29.2±9.6 nmol/l; P =0.004) are significantly decreased in AGA group than control groups. Conclusion: This study was concluded that serum LH, prolactin, serum testosterone, DHEA-S and free androgen index are increased whereas, serum FSH and ...