P9.115 IMPORTANCE OF SERUM FERRITIN LEVELS IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF CHRONIC TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM

Rendon MI, Ciocca GR, Gaviria JI.

Dermatology & Aesthetic Center – Skincareresearch, Inc – University of Miami

Background: The medical literature has given considerable attention to the possible relationship between low serum iron status with chronic hair shedding, and development of Chronic Telogen Effluvium (CTE).

Objectives: To evaluate the degree of relationship between low serum Ferritin levels (SFL) and the diagnosis of CTE. DESIGN: 169 charts of patients who presented to the dermatology clinic between July/2001-July/2002 were assessed for hair loss of greater than 6 months. Out of the 169 charts reviewed, 84 women had required biochemical evaluation for systemic causes of hair loss and included a serum Ferritin test.

Results: Out of the 84 patients, 61 (72.62%) patients were diagnosed with CTE and 23 (27.38%) were diagnosed with other type of alopecia. The average SFL for the patients with CTE diagnosis was 39.15 ug/L, while the average for patients with other alopecia diagnosis was 93.13 ug/L.  A Chi ² test was applied to establish the association between low SFL and CTE, considering a low SFL lower than 68 mu/L (75%-percentile for the study population), a significant (Chi2=16.78, p=0.00004188 c.n.=95%), support an association between low SFL and CTE.  In the Spearman’s rho Test we found that there exists an inverse correlation between SFL and the presence of CTE (Rho-0.446, p=000.0, c.n. 95%). Patients with low SFL were treated with iron supplementation and minoxidil 2% solution (Rogaine™).

Conclusions: There is a possible relationship between low SFL and the diagnosis of CTE. Although controversial our study showed that Ferritin is still an important tool in the diagnosis of patients with CTE. In addition to the treatment with topical minoxidil, iron supplementation could also be used to improve the outcome of these patients