Iron deficiency in female pattern hair loss, chronic telogen effluvium, and control groups

Background The literature suggests tint iron deficiency (ID) may play a role in female pattern hair loss (FPHL) or in chronic telogen effluvium (CTE). Objective We sought to determine if ID is more common in women with FPHL and/or CTE than in control subjects without hair loss. Methods This was a controlled study of 381 Caucasian women aged 18 years or older with FPHL or CTE seen in the Duke University Hair Disorders Clinic, Durham, NC, and 76 Caucasian women aged 18 years or older from the university environs who had no history or physical findings of hair loss (control subjects). All participants had to have at least a serum feirtin and hemoglobin leading and history of menopausal status. Results When ferritin less than or equal to 15 mu g/L was used is the definition, ID occurred in 12 4%, 12 1%, and 29 8% of premenopaus 11 women with FPHL (n = 170), CTE (n = 58), and control subjects (n = 47), respectively, and in 1 7%, 10 5%, and 6 9% of postmenopausal women with FPHL (n = 115), CTE (n = 38), and control subjects (n = 29), respectively When ferritin less than or equal to 40 mu g/L was used as the definition, ID occurred in 58 8%, 63 8%, and 72 3% of premenopausal women with FPHL, CTE, and control subjects, respectively and in 26 1%, 36 8%, and 20 7% of postmenopausal women with FPHL, CTE, and control subjects, respectively. There was no statistically significant increase in the incidence of Ill in premenopausal or postmenopausal women with FPHL or CTE versus control subjects. Limitations The effect of correction of ID on hair loss is unknown. Conclusion ID is common in women but not increased in patients with FPHL or CTE compared with control subjects.