Backpound : Androgenetic alopecia is considered to be a gentially determined disorder influenced by age and andren. The proportion of patients with endrogenetic alopecia among the total number of patients with alpecia seems to be gradually imreasing. Objective : The purpose of this study is to determine the family history, clinical and endocrine status of the patients with androgenetic alopecia. Methods : 387 patients with androgenetic alopecia who had visited the Department of Dermatology, Yongsan Hospital, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang Jniversity during the last 4 years(1990.1-1993.12) were examined. Results : 1) Annual incidence of aodrogenetic alopecia among the to al number of alopecia patients averaged over 4 years was 38.9 having increased recently. 2) There were 286 male and 101 female patients being mosip, evalent in the 3rd decade in both sexes. 3) Patients younger than 30 years old, patients with premat trandrogenetic alopecia, made up 68,5% of the male patients and 56.4% of the female patients with androgenetic alopecia. 4) Of the 73 male patients Hamiltons type III was most cornon (46, 63.0%). 5) Of the 34 female patients Ludwigs type I was most comnorf, 21, 61.2%. 6) There was a family history of baldness in 39.4% of first the gree relatives in male patients and 41.2% of first degree relatives in female patients. 7) Associated diseases were observed in 152 (53.1%) of the male patients and 63 (62.4%) of the female patients, seborrheic dermatitis (36.7%/35.7%), acne vulgaris (5.2%/5.9%), atopic dermatitis, thyroid diseasea, pulmonary tuberculosis, depression, and gastrointestinal diseases. In female patients menstrid irregularity, hypertrichosis, and plycystic ovary disease were also observed. 8) Serum testosterone levels were increased in 24 (8.8%) of male patients and in 17 (17.4%) of female patients. Conclusion : Based on our findings, the development of andrignetic alopecia is significantly related to the positive family history of baldness. Serum test as erone levels in most patients were within normal limit and were increased only in a sm 11 number of the patients with androgenetic alopecia. Therefore, it seems reasonable to suggest that the inhibitory effects of androgens on the dermal papilla cells may be mediated by decreased density and/or functional activity of androgen receptors or through an accelera biom the metabolic activity of androgen.
(Kor J Dermatol 1995; 33(1): 44-52)