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Elevated aldosterone levels in patients with androgenetic alopecia
British Journal of Dermatology, 06/15/09

Santiago SAA et al. - The elevated aldosterone values in these patients may contribute, together with other mechanisms, to the development of AGA and may also explain the higher prevalence of hypertension. Blood pressure screening of patients with AGA will permit earlier diagnosis of an unknown hypertension and initiation of appropriate treatment.

Exclusive Author Commentary
Salvador A. Arias Santiago, 06/16/09

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) has been related to an increase in cardiovascular risk by various authors, but the mechanism of this association has not been elucidated. There is reported to be an elevated prevalence of hypertension among AGA patients, and it has been proposed that both phenomena may be explained by the presence of hyperaldosteronism. Thus, high aldosterone levels underlie the majority of hypertension cases, and recent studies revealed the presence on mouse skin of mineralocorticoid receptors whose stimulation produces alopecia. However, no data on aldosterone levels in patients with androgenetic alopecia have been published to date.This study found significantly higher systolic BP values and aldosterone levels in alopecic men versus non-alopecic individuals. Aldosterone antagonists may exert a dual beneficial effect in hypertensive AGA patients, controlling BP and preventing alopecia progression, especially if taken in early stages. Hence, there is a need for new selective antagonists of aldosterone receptors to treat androgenetic alopecia in hypertensive patients without causing anti-androgenic side effects.