Hair Loss News

Researchers in India studied hair loss patterns in 150 male patients who suffer from androgenetic alopecia (AA)

They found the severity of the hair loss increased significantly with age.  They attempted to classify the cases according to the Norwood/Hamilton scale which is a chart grading the severity of hair loss.   They were able to classify 80% of the cases according to the chart, but some did not fit into any of the categories.

This research was done to get some data on MPB within the Indian population which is currently not well documented.

Male pattern androgenetic alopecia in an Indian context: a perspective study.

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2007 Apr
Sehgal V, Kak R, Aggarwal A, Srivastava G, Rajput P.
Skin Institute and School of Dermatology, Greater Kailash, New Delhi, India.

Background Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) has received scant attention, despite it being a common entity that may result in significant psychosocial morbidity. There are some patients who do not fit into any of the proposed types. Moreover, there have been no published studies of pattern and prevalence of AGA in males in an Indian context. Hence, the present study was an attempt to classify AGA in males with the aim of producing a simple, effective and easily reproducible classification.

Methods: In total, 150 male patients were clinically diagnosed as AGA. After obtaining informed consent from all patients, a detailed history/examination was carried out, including a hair pull test, a trichogram investigation and a biopsy. Classification of AGA was subsequently attempted across Norwood guidelines.

Results: A gradual shift in the type of AGA from the earlier types (II and III) to more severe types (VI) with increasing age was significant. Twenty-seven patients did not fit into specific patterns according to Hamilton and Norwood classifications. In addition, type ‘a’ variant was recorded in 20% of patients, clearly indicating limitations of the existing classifications.

Conclusions: It was possible to classify 80% of the AGA, with II (28%) and III (15%) being the most common types of AGA. Twenty-seven patients (18%) could not be classified as a significant finding. There was considerable overlap in types IV, V and VI in the Norwood classification with the ‘a’ variants further confusing the picture.

PMID: 17373973