title: Clinical utility and validity of minoxidil response testing in androgenetic alopecia.
abstract: Clinical response to 5% topical minoxidil for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is typically observed after 3-6 months. Approximately 40% of patients will regrow hair. Given the prolonged treatment time required to elicit a response, a diagnostic test for ruling out nonresponders would have significant clinical utility. Two studies have previously reported that sulfotransferase enzyme activity in plucked hair follicles predicts a patient's response to topical minoxidil therapy. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical utility and validity of minoxidil response testing. In this communication, the present authors conducted an analysis of completed and ongoing studies of minoxidil response testing. The analysis confirmed the clinical utility of a sulfotransferase enzyme test in successfully ruling out 95.9% of nonresponders to topical minoxidil for the treatment of AGA.
authors.affiliation: Applied Biology, Irvine, California; Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University of Rome "G. Marconi", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goren
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.forename: Nisha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: Zoulikha
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zarrab
authors.forename: Aldona
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pietrzak
authors.forename: Torello
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lotti
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000254:growth & development; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008914:Minoxidil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008914:Minoxidil
keywords: androgenetic alopecia; minoxidil; response test