Increased scalp skin and serum 5 alpha-reductase reduced androgens in a man relevant to the acquired progressive kinky hair disorder and developing androgenetic alopecia.
BACKGROUND
The acquired progressive kinking of scalp hair is a disorder in which affected hairs resemble secondary sexual hairs. Some authors have evoked an androgen-related disorder that heralds the onset of androgenetic alopecia. To verify this hypothesis, we focused our attention on a 23-year-old man who has this unusual disorder, which is progressing toward androgenetic alopecia. Patient's circulating 5 alpha-reductase reduced androgen levels; scalp skin 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone formation; and trichography, histological, scanning, and polarizing electron microscopy analyses were compared in normal and affected scalp skin areas.


METHODS
Results of histological and scalp skin 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone formation analyses and comparison of growth pattern of kinky hair in the affected areas with that of healthy hair were similar to those found in androgenetic alopecia.


CONCLUSIONS
No data are available to confirm the presence of a sole entity, even if our arguments support our hypothesis. The confirmation of this tendency warrants further investigation.
Boudou
P
P
Department of Hormonal Biology, Saint-Louis University Hospital, Paris, France.
Reygagne
P
P
D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000728:Androgens / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006197:Hair / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006201:Hair Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012535:Scalp / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D000728:Androgens; D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase