Alopecia
Description | Basic evaluations: ESR, blood count, iron and, if necessary creatinine, SGOT, SGPT, gamma-GT, AP Hormone evaluations: TSH, FT3, FT4, prolactin. In case of androgenetic alopecia: Testosterone, SHBG, free androgen-index, DHEAS, if necessary androstendion, LH, FSH, estradiol (i.e. peri- or postmenopausal estrogen-deficiency or postpartal hair loss after estrogen-concentration-decrease) Other hormonal causes: Diabetes mellitus, hypoparathyroidism, pituitary gland insufficiency Deficiencies: Next to iron (as above), zinc, copper Association with illnesses: ANA (autoimmune disorders), thyroid antibodies (autoimmune thyroiditis), IgE, allergen-specific IgE (atopy), vitamin B12, methylmalonic acid, folic acid (anemia perniciosa), serologic screening for gluten-sensitive enteropathy (sprue) in patients with alopecia areata Heavy metal poisoning: Mercury (urine), lead (EDTA-blood), cadmium (urine or EDTA-blood), thallium (EDTA-blood) Differential diagnosis: Acure stress situations, anorexia, bulimia nervosa Medication: anticoagulants, beta-blockers, lipid reducer, thyreostatics, retinoids, oral contraceptives with androgen partial effect |