Serum Level of Galectin -3 and Its Relation to Insulin Resistance in Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia

Sorour, N.E.; Mustafa, A.I.; Abd Elhlim, W.A.; NassrEldin, A.F.

doi:10.21608/bjas.2020.135488

Serum Level of Galectin -3 and Its Relation to Insulin Resistance in Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia

Document Type : Original Research Papers

Authors

¹ Dermatology,Venereology and Andrology Dept., Faculty of Medicine, Benha Univ., Benha, Egypt

² Lecturer of Clinical & Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha Univ., Benha, Egypt

10.21608/bjas.2020.135488

Abstract

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common cause of hair loss in both genders, characterized by follicular miniaturization in a patterned hair loss occurring due to systemic androgen and genetic factors. Galectin-3 is a macrophage-derived instigator of insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance, which are two phenotypes associated with obesity-induced type 2 diabetes. Their findings highlight Gal3 as a candidate new therapeutic target to restore insulin sensitivity . to evaluate serum Galectin -3, fasting insulin and fasting blood glucose levels in patients with androgenetic alopecia and to assess its relation to insulin resistance in androgenetic alopecia patients. This case control study was conducted on 60 patients suffering from Androgentic alopecia (Group A) and 20 apparently healthy individuals of matched age and sex as a control group (Group B). Each patient were subjected to full history taking, complete clinical examination and Estimation of serum levels of Galectin-3 and fasting insulin using enzyme linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique, and fasting blood glucose level in both androgenetic alopecia patients and control group. The mean age of AGA patients was 39.9 years. Male patients represented 66.7%, GAL3 showed excellent AUC (AUC=0.978). At cut off value of 7.9, sensitivity was 93.3%, specificity was 93.3%, HOMA IR showed excellent AUC (AUC=0.967). At cut off value of 1.85, sensitivity was 93.3%, specificity was 93.3%. Conclusion: higher HOMA IR, GAL3 were considered as independent predictors for AGA development. Higher HOMA IR, GAL3 were considered as independent predictors for more severe AGA in both males a females.

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