Objective: To investigate the impact of androgenetic alopecia on ocular health, particularly focusing on dry eye disease and meibomian gland dysfunction in female patients. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted involving 28 eyes of female patients diagnosed with androgenetic alopecia and 32 eyes of healthy controls. Participants underwent dry eye tests, including the Schirmer-I test, Oxford score, and Ocular Surface Disease Index. Meibomian gland morphology was evaluated using dynamic meibography, and tear film stability was assessed through non-invasive tear breakup time and tear meniscus height measurements. Meibomian gland quality and function were graded using standardized scoring systems. Results: Although patients with androgenetic alopecia exhibited higher Schirmer-I test values and Oxford scores compared to controls, the differences were not statistically significant. Similarly, no significant differences were found in Ocular Surface Disease Index, non-invasive tear breakup time, tear meniscus height, or blink rate. Meiboscores were comparable between both groups. However, meibum quality was significantly better in the androgenetic alopecia group (p=0.001). Conclusion: While androgenetic alopecia may influence meibomian gland function, this study found no significant differences in dry eye parameters between androgenetic alopecia patients and healthy controls. These findings suggest that the hormonal interplay between sex steroids and the ocular surface is complex, and further research with larger cohorts is needed to fully understand the ocular implications of androgenetic alopecia.
Keywords: Androgenetic alopecia; dry eye disease; meibomian gland dysfunction; sex steroids; female pattern hair loss
Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, kadın hastalarda androgenetik alopesinin oküler sağlık üzerindeki etkisini incelemek, özellikle kuru göz hastalığı ve meibomian bezi disfonksiyonu ile olan ilişkisini değerlendirmektir. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Androgenetik alopesi tanısı konmuş kadın hastalara ait 28 göz ve sağlıklı kontrol grubuna ait 32 gözün dâhil edildiği kesitsel gözlemsel bir çalışma yürütülmüştür. Katılımcılara Schirmer-I testi, Oxford skoru ve Oküler Yüzey Hastalık İndeksi gibi kuru göz testleri uygulanmıştır. Meibomian bezi morfolojisi, dinamik meibografi ile değerlendirilmiş, gözyaşı filmi stabilitesi, invaziv olmayan gözyaşı kırılma süresi ve gözyaşı menisküs yüksekliği ölçümleri ile analiz edilmiştir. Meibomian bezi kalitesi ve fonksiyonu, standart skorlamalar kullanılarak derecelendirilmiştir. Bulgular: Androgenetik alopesili hastalarda Schirmer-I testi değerleri ve Oxford skorları, kontrol grubuna kıyasla daha yüksek olmasına rağmen bu fark istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulunmamıştır. Aynı şekilde Oküler Yüzey Hastalık İndeksi, invaziv olmayan gözyaşı kırılma süresi, gözyaşı menisküs yüksekliği ve göz kırpma hızı açısından da anlamlı bir farklılık saptanmamıştır. Meiboskor değerleri, her iki grupta benzer bulunmuştur. Ancak meibum kalitesi, androgenetik alopesi grubunda anlamlı derecede daha iyi olarak tespit edilmiştir (p=0,001). Sonuç: Androgenetik alopesi, meibomian bezi fonksiyonunu etkileyebilecek bir faktör olmakla birlikte bu çalışmada, androgenetik alopesi hastaları ile sağlıklı kontroller arasında kuru göz parametreleri açısından anlamlı bir fark bulunmamıştır. Bu bulgular, cinsiyet steroidleri ile oküler yüzey arasındaki hormonal etkileşimin karmaşık bir yapıya sahip olduğunu göstermekte olup, androgenetik alopesinin oküler etkilerini tam olarak anlayabilmek için daha geniş hasta grupları ile yapılacak ileri çalışmalara ihtiyaç duyulduğunu ortaya koymaktadır.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Androgenetik alopesi; kuru göz hastalığı; meibomian bezi disfonksiyonu; cinsiyet steroidleri; kadın tipi saç dökülmesi
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