Hypertension and aldosterone levels in women with early-onset androgenetic alopecia

BACKGROUND: Few studies have analysed the relationship between androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in women and cardiovascular disease. There is reported to be an elevated prevalence of hypertension among men with AGA, and it has been proposed that both phenomena may be explained by the presence of hyperaldosteronism. However, no data on blood pressure (BP) and aldosterone levels in women with AGA have been published to date. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate aldosterone levels and the presence of systolic and diastolic hypertension in women with early-onset AGA and in healthy controls. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This case-control study included 40 women with AGA and 40 healthy controls from the Department of Dermatology of San Cecilio Hospital, Granada, Spain. RESULTS: Patients with AGA showed significantly higher systolic BP values (139.43 vs. 107.80 mmHg; P < 0.0001), diastolic BP values (87.65 vs. 67.48 mmHg; P < 0.0001) and aldosterone levels (249.55 vs. 155.14 pg mL(-1); P = 0.002) vs. controls, respectively. A positive correlation between aldosterone levels and systolic and diastolic BP values is described. CONCLUSIONS: A higher prevalence of hypertension in women with AGA has been found. The elevated aldosterone values in these patients may contribute, alongside other mechanisms, to the development of AGA and may also explain the higher prevalence of hypertension. BP screening of women with AGA will permit earlier diagnosis of an unsuspected hypertension and initiation of appropriate treatment.