Low Iron Level is related to Telogen Effluvium in Women

Abstract

A case-control study conducted in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka from July 2008- December 2010. A total 60 female patients of telogen effluvium attending in outpatient department (OPD) were enrolled in the study with 30 having hair loss considered as case (Group-A) and another 30 females had no history of hair loss were considered as control (Group-B). The study included 60 patients and the mean age were 25.4±7 years ranging from 18 to 42 years in group A and 24.8±5.6 years ranging from 17 to 36 years in group B. Maximum number was found in the age group of 21- 30 years in both groups and nearly three fourth (73.4%) patients were unmarried in group A and 18(60.0%) in group B. Most of the patients were student in both groups, which were 21(70.0%) and 17(56.7%) in group A and group B respectively and majority of the the patients were HSC level in both groups, 15(50.0%) and 14(46.7%) in Group A and Group B respectively. Most of the patients came from middle class, which were 20(66.7%) and 16(53.3%) in group A and group B respectively. The mean serum ferritin were 18.8±8.1 g/L ranging from 4.5 to 36.54 g/L and 36.6±9.9 mg/L ranging from 18.46 to 56.3 mg/ L in group A and group B respectively. The mean Hb level was 11.5±1.4 gm/dl ranging from 8.5 to 14.0 gm/dl in group A and 12.8±1.1 gm/dl ranging from 10.5 to 14.5 gm/dl in group B. The mean difference of Hb level was statistically significant (p<0.05) between two groups in unpaired t-test. It can be concluded that low iron level is associated with telogen effluvium in women. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmed.v21i2.13617 Bangladesh J Medicine 2010; 21: 84-89

Assessment of heavy metal and trace element levels in patients with telogen effluvium

“…observed low serum ferritin levels in patients with TE, proposing that iron deficiency anemia may have an important role in the development of TE. [ 16 17 18 ] Contrary to previous publications, our patients had elevated iron levels, which may be due to the exclusion of patients with iron deficiency anemia. However, this significant increase as compared to controls seems to imply that iron supplementation may actually be counterproductive rather than providing benefit.…”

Clinicoepidemiological Observational Study of Acquired Alopecias in Females Correlating with Anemia and Thyroid Function

“…The prevalence of anemia in a study of 4032 asymptomatic females in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh was found to be 52% [ 24 ]. In our study population, serum ferritin levels ranged from 5.10 to 200.70 (mean: 54.73 ± 41.46) μ g/L, nine (6.6%) being iron deficient (serum ferritin < 12 μ g/L), as compared to that of 33.3% in studies conducted in Bangladesh and Iran [ 24 , 25 ]. Out of 99 patients of anemia, 9 (9.1%) were found to have iron deficiency anemia.…”

Association of serum ferritin with chronic diffuse alopecia in female patient

“…20 In this study, females with CTE and FPHL had significantly lower SFL than females who had no hair loss, with mean SFL 12.35±7.15 ng/ml and 20.25±16.07 ng/ml respectively. Karim et al found significantly lower SFL in females with CTE in Bangladesh 21 , indicating strong association between iron deficiency and CTE. A Nepali study found mean SFL in FPHL was 18.39±9.14 ng/ml.…”