title: Prevalence of androgenic alopecia in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and characterization of associated clinical and biochemical features.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the prevalence of androgenic alopecia (AGA) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to characterize associated clinical and biochemical features.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multidisciplinary PCOS clinic at a tertiary academic center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 254 women with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria were systematically examined from 2007 to 2012 by a reproductive endocrinologist, a dermatologist, and a psychologist.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comprehensive dermatologic exams, ultrasonic imaging, serum testing, and Beck Depression Inventory Fast Screen (BDI-FS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Presence of AGA, acne, hirsutism, biochemical hyperandrogenemia, metabolic dysfunction, and clinical depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-six of 254 patients with PCOS (22.0%) had AGA. Subjects with PCOS and AGA were more likely to have acne or hirsutism than those without AGA (96.3% vs. 70.6%). Subjects with AGA were more likely to report concern with hair loss (70.4% vs. 37.7%); however, their BDI-FS scores were no different from subjects without AGA. There were no differences between subjects with and without AGA in biochemical hyperandrogenism or metabolic parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AGA is prevalent in 22% of subjects meeting diagnostic criteria for PCOS. AGA is associated with other manifestations of clinical hyperandrogenism, but not with greater risk of biochemical hyperandrogenemia or metabolic dysfunction than with PCOS alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California. Electronic address: quinnm@obgyn.ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: Kanade
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shinkai
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: Lauri
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pasch
authors.affiliation: Cancer Risk Program, University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kuzmich
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: Marcelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cedars
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huddleston
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012495:San Francisco / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Polycystic ovary syndrome; androgenic alopecia; clinical hyperandrogenism